14 FARM MANAGEMENT 



condition is much more difficult than formerly. Occa- 

 sionally a good executive makes a fair success when he 

 does no manual work, but higher profits are usually made 

 by those who combine executive ability with labor. 

 Some very successful men have very little mechanical 

 ability, while a good mechanic may fall. Sometimes the 

 mechanical genius spends so much time puttering with 

 his tools that he does not get time to use them in raising 

 crops. Good common sense, which is another definition 

 for business ability, is the most important trait, but the 

 highest profits are made by those who combine this ability 

 with experience, scientific knowledge of plant and animal 

 production, manual and mechanical skill, and hard work. 



PROFITS TO BE EXPECTED IN FARMING 



9. Comparison of farming with other occupations. 

 In order to compare farming with other occupations, we 

 must consider the capital invested, the safety of the 

 capital, the average income, the average number of hours 

 of labor, and the cost and standard of living. 



Such a comparison is very hard to make. The farmer 

 goes without many things that the city man enjoys, but 

 has many things that are luxuries for the city. In each 

 case the value of the things to be had cheaply is under- 

 estimated, while the value of the things denied is over- 

 estimated. Each one is impressed with the greater pleas- 

 ures that the other has. We find the aim of many farmers 

 to be to make enough money to be able to retire to town, 

 while the city dweller hopes to save enough money so that 

 he may be able to retire to a farm. In each case the 

 pleasures left behind are better appreciated when they are 

 out of reach. 



