The Inventory 7 



trouble" to keep track of his business, he will 

 go on having a few hours of happiness and 

 many gloomy days; each year he will lose faith 

 in himself, in his fellowmen and in his business. 



INVENTORY 



The simplest method of determining gains 

 and losses is to take an inventory at some 

 stated time each year. In many of the states, 

 as New York, where the spring is really the 

 beginning of the farm year and only a little 

 grain and roughage 1 will be on hand, the in- 

 ventory would better be made either the first 

 of April or May. It is assumed that any in- 

 telligent farmer, from such inventory, will be 

 able to tell at least once a year the amount 

 of bills receivable and bills payable, that is, 

 how much is owing to him and how much he 

 owes, and the amount of net assets of personal 

 property. 



It is surprising how much the judgment is 

 developed in making a detailed list of one's 

 belongings, with values attached. When the 

 second inventory is made, at the end of the 

 year, the breakage, losses and depreciation of 

 some of the property will stand out in bold re- 

 lief. It is said that one can winter a horse and 



1 Roughage is any coarse feed, as hay, straw, corn-stalks, and the like, 



