908 the farmers' handbook. 



The next Essential a Diary. 



The inventory, especially if taken on January 1, might well be copied 

 on the opening'pages of a diary. These are cheap enough, and the foolscap 

 sizes, with two or three days to a page, and sufficient space at the end for a 

 financial summary, are eminently suitable. (If preferred, a well-bound 

 book may be used, and columns ruled for the insertion of values for several 

 years. An example of this is given later.) 



All the transactions should be recorded in the diary as they occur; and 

 in addition, it is wise to note the doings of every labourer (in a special book, 

 ii necessary), the date of service of the farm breeding stock, the plantings 

 and harvestings, the rainfall, frosts, unusual winds, &c. Many an otherwise 

 unaccountable variation in the yield of two similar crops sown at almost the 

 same time may be understood by reference to some such record, and many 

 of the innumerable problems which incessantly confront the agriculturist may 

 by this means be solved. 



At the end of each month a summary should be made of the receipts and 

 expenditure, and in this some discrimination is needed. It is not enough 

 to pay the storekeeper's bill of, say, 100s. Of this, 52s. maybe for groceries, 

 20s. for seed, 10s. for plough-lines, harness oil, &c, 15s. for a new plough- 

 share, and 3s. for an odd ball of binder twine. Similarly, the blacksmith's 

 bill may include shoeing, to be charged to horses, repairs to ploughs, new 

 tires, &c, to the implement account, and new gate-hinges to buildings and 

 fences. In just the same way, the receipts must be classified, and credited 

 to crops, cattle, sheep, pigs, fruit, &c. 



From this summary of the month's transactions, the Journal (to be after- 

 wards explained) may be made up. All receipts should be kept and 

 numbered, and all account sales of produce, stock, &c, carefully preserved 

 for future reference. The safest method for any farmer to adopt is the 

 banking of all moneys received, and the payment of accounts by cheque as 

 far as possible. His pass-book then becomes a very valuable aid in book- 

 keeping. Small accounts may be paid from Petty Cash, a cheque for £5 or 

 £10 being drawn for this purpose as required, and payments recorded 

 on a special page of the diary. When the amount provided is exhausted, 

 or nearly so, a cheque is drawn for the amount expended and the payments 

 classified for entry in the Journal. The Journal entries will appear as 



under : — 



Petty Cash— Dr ... £5 



To Bank £5 



House Expenses ... ... ... 2 15 



Horse (shoeing) ... ... ... 126 



Plant (repairs)— Dr. 17 6 



To Petty Cash ... 4 15 



It may not be out of place to suggest here that a page of the diary might 

 well be used for a few particulars regarding the fire and life policies (giving 

 No., amount and due date of premium, and where the policy is kept), details 

 of any mortgages on the farm, and rough details (if actual copies are not 

 on hand) of any agreements with labourers, clearers, &c. Such information 

 may be required at a moment's notice, and may be of paramount importance 

 when the owner is, through sickness or other cause, absent at the time when 

 payments are due. 



These are good grounds for the opinion that an accurately made inventory 

 and a regularly kept diary conduce as much to a thorough knowledge of 

 one's affairs as a journal or a ledger. 



