THE STUDY OF FARMING 5 



should be regularly employed in work of in- 

 creasing responsibility as his knowledge extends. 

 Further, he should make a point of studying 

 the management and organisation of the farm, 

 and not, as is so often done, spend all his time 

 in merely acquiring proficiency in such opera- 

 tions as ploughing, driving a mowing machine, 

 etc., however fascinating they may be. For after 

 all, while it is desirable to be familiar with them, 

 they are the province of the farm labourer, 

 whereas the would-be farmer's particular pro- 

 vince is management, organisation, the capacity 

 to judge stock and crops, and a detailed know- 

 ledge of the £ s. d. of everything that is done. 

 The best way to perfect oneself in this latter 

 very important item is to write up a diary 

 each evening of the day's doings on the farm, 

 particularly details as to time taken over any 

 operation, labour involved, and notes of expendi- 

 ture and receipts that occur. In this way 

 much valuable information and statistics can be 

 accumulated, from which one will be able to 

 estimate the cost of different matters, such as 

 the growth of a crop, or the fattening of stock, 

 and determine where economy could be effected. 

 Stock markets should, of course, be regularly 



