THE BUSINESS OF FARMING 217 



(e) The balancing of rations, the maintenance of feeding 

 standards, the keeping of records of animal achievement and 

 production, the cost of feed stuffs, the housing and general 

 care of animals, the improvement of breeds, are all problems 

 of live-stock farming. 



(f ) The amount of capital to invest in farm buildings and 

 machinery in order to have both convenience and comfort 

 as well as profitable money returns is another question. 



(g) The employment of sufficient reliable labor when 

 needed is a difficult farm problem. Whether to plan for spe- 

 cial or steady labor, how best to utilize the labor, what to 

 pay, etc., are labor problems constantly recurring on the 

 farm. 



(h) The lay-out of the farm and the arrangement of 

 lots, fields, and buildings is a problem of no small concern. 

 Upon the proper lay-out depends much of the economy in 

 labor, equipment, and time in operation, as well as the gen- 

 eral beauty of the farm's appearance. 



(i) The general question of keeping books connected with 

 the buying and selling as well as with the records of crops 

 and animals, is a problem too often neglected by the busy 

 farmer, who should employ better business methods. 



Marketing. The marketing of farm products is as much 

 a part of the business of farming as the production of the 

 crops. It is not altogether an individual problem to find a 

 successful market, but often a community or public ques- 

 tion. If products are stored or held for higher prices, al- 

 lowance must be made for cost of handling, insurance, shrink- 

 i 



age, etc. In most cases, wherever it is feasible, it pays to 



