Fortunes for Farmers 



how far he can trust anyone, which demands not 

 only a close knowledge of each case, but continual 

 watchfulness. Further, it demands a heavy capital. 



The merchant finds his customers fall into 

 three classes. The first and smallest are the most 

 prosperous. They buy closely, pay promptly, 

 and demand value for money to the last farthing. 

 The second and largest are regular clients, who 

 form the backbone of his business, being con- 

 servative, and loath to leave a firm so long as they 

 receive what they consider fair treatment. They 

 must have credit, but are safe, and pay regularly 

 after harvest. It is this class that the banks should 

 cater for. The last division are the reprobates 

 who never ask the price of an article, and seldom 

 pay unless compelled. There are shady customers 

 and bad payers in every business, but I think 

 these men carry credit-cadging to the highest 

 point. They order lavishly, but when the day of 

 payment arrives are nowhere to be found. Their 

 excuses are fertile, and the credit they succeed 

 in getting year after year is amazing, for they 

 range from firm to firm, subsisting on borrowed 

 capital. 



Some of these old hands can farm without 

 money at all. Given a few sheep and horses and 

 implements, they will take a farm anywhere. 

 They delay paying the inventory until they can 



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