28 FAEM ACCOUNTS. 



In taking an inventory for the first time, some difficulty 

 will be experienced. Items will be omitted which should 

 be included. A general farm carries so many enterprises, 

 and when fully equipped there are so many different tools, 

 utensils, and supplies, that some precautions should be 

 taken to avoid missing anything. If an inventory is not 

 accurate it will be quite impossible to determine the profit- 

 ableness of the different enterprises. 



As a rule the most convenient method of taking inventory 

 on the farm is to use a pocket memorandum book and lead 

 pencil. Write at the top of several pages the natural head- 

 ings or classifications, somewhat as follows: Head the 

 first page, Real Estate; the second, Horses; the third, 

 Cattle; and so on, using as many headings as are thought 

 convenient. Then beginning work at some place, for in- 

 stance the barn, make an efttry in the book on the ap- 

 propriate page, of each item and its value, taking care to 

 include everything. When all articles in the barn have 

 been properly listed, go to some other place, and so from 

 place to place until every kind of property is listed. When 

 the work is finished, every classification should be carefully 

 examined and if anything has been omitted it should be 

 put in at this time. 



The pencil entries should then be copied in neat form as a 

 permanent record. This may be done in a book used for 

 that purpose, or on separate sheets of paper to be filed, 

 or on statement cards if a card system of bookkeeping 

 is folloAved. 



In all the work of taking inventory and making it into 

 a permanent record, the scheme of classification suggested 

 is of the utmost importance. In some things the sub- 

 division should be quite extensive. For instance, it will 

 be found helpful to subdivide the heading of tools into 

 graden tools, blacksmith tools, carpenter tools and haying 

 tools. In House Furnishings, greater accuracy will be ob- 

 tained if the division is made somewhat as follows: 



Blame is the lazy man's wages. Dan. 



