250 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



know the value of disciplined men in war ; they are equally 

 so in business. A few months ago I met a gentleman on 

 the train. He proved to be a New York business man. In 

 conversation he gave me an incident illustrating this point. 

 Desiring to obtain situations for two nephews of his, who 

 were cousins of about equal ages and qualifications, he called 

 upon a neighboring merchant and asked if he could give 

 them positions in his store. He could make room for one. 

 The question came which one. In discussing their merits 

 the fact was developed that one of them was a member of 

 one of the finest regiments of the State militia. At once 

 the merchant said : " I will take him ; he is the man I want." 

 My acquaintance was rather in favor of the choice being 

 given to the other, and asked why he chose the military 

 man. The answer was : " Because he is a disciplined man. 

 He can receive commands and execute them, and when re- 

 quired, give them. He will be worth more money to me." 

 Here is an instance where discipline brought dollars. Is it 

 not wise for us to look at it in that lio;ht also ? The Granije 

 gives a uniform discipline to its membership. The various 

 peoples who are represented by our farmers, whatever their 

 section or nation, are thus brought to a unity, as were the 

 members of our regiments in the late war. 



However much organization may benefit an individual, he 

 will find that he cannot rest there ; he must seek the good 

 results that come from the ordinary forms of business in 

 use, and apply them to his farming business. As a class, 

 farmers are sadly deficient in business detail. Should a 

 manufacturer conduct his operations in such a loose, unsys- 

 tematized way, he would be sure to fail, and receive the 

 verdict of "served him right." There is too much guess- 

 work about farm business. The bookkeeping is not syste- 

 matic enough. I have seen much of farmers' bookkeeping, 

 and while admiring its simplicity, I have been impressed 

 with its want of completeness. The day book, journal and 

 ledger frequently consist of one book, — generally, a patent 

 medicine almanac kept hanging from a nail under the clock 

 shelf in the kitchen. Here and there, on the margin of the 

 leaves against certain dates, are entries made of farm events. 

 The sale of the brindle heifer, the weight of the fat hogs, 



