Fortunes for Farmers 



can prepare a set of figures that bears some re- 

 semblance to his actual position, but the farmer 

 is unable to do likewise. Even if the latter is sure 

 from his calculations that he has made a profit on 

 the year's working, he does not know how he has 

 made it, nor if he is losing can he locate the leak. 

 From a business point of view, farming is a hazardous 

 adventure, and this prevents farmers from obtain- 

 ing credit as reasonably as they otherwise might, 

 for the creditor is compelled to rely more on the 

 man's character than on any figures that may be 

 placed before him. When a business man is losing 

 money and is unable to tell where and why, he calls 

 in an auditor who examines and analyses the figures 

 for years back, and as a rule succeeds in finding the 

 weak spot. He can do this because his raw material 

 of figures is available. But the farmer has no 

 figures. He can only guess. 



An ideal system of book-keeping on a farm 

 would, as in a business, take account of every 

 payment and receipt, and resolve each transaction 

 to its proper place or divide it into its components, 

 so that a profit and loss statement could be made 

 at the end of a year. The farmer would be able to 

 tell how the money was spent and know exactly 

 what went for labour, railway carriage, rates, 

 insurance, repairs, renewals, tradesmen's accounts, 

 and the usual items. These could come under re- 



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