146 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



profits have always been book profits. No farm is a success that 

 does not pay all expenses, a reasonable rate of interest, and good 

 wages to the operator, and have enough money to provide for de- 

 preciation. Many college graduates have undertaken the manage- 

 ment of such farms. Formerly the writer recommended some of 

 them for such places, but so far the writer has never seen an 

 instance when such a farm paid. Yet these same college graduates 

 have by the hundreds demonstrated their ability to make their 

 own farms pay. Part of the difficulty is the erroneous attempt to 

 apply the factory system to farming operations. Part of the diffi- 

 culty is that the successful business man makes a fad of farming. 

 He has too many theories to try out. 



Most of the big farms that are popularly cited as examples of 

 business organization of a farm have a monthly check come out 

 from the city to meet the pay roll. If the writer were free to give 

 the names of some of the well-known places that have been run 

 for years at a loss, many of which have been written up as great 

 successes, the list would contain many surprises for the reader. 



Wealthy men who start farming with the idea of showing 

 farmers how to farm often end by finding out some of the obsta- 

 cles in the way of farming and joining with the farmers to work 

 for their removal. By aiding in cooperation, in marketing, in 

 obtaining railroad accommodations, and in having laws passed 

 that give the farmer equal rights, such men have done much good. 

 Farmers are no more and no less in need of education or uplifting 

 than are merchants, bankers, mechanics, or any other class of 

 our population. But farmers have been relatively too little heard 

 in legislative halls. 



A successful business man may derive much pleasure from a 

 country place. But if he hopes to make money by farming with 

 a hired manager, he had best profit by the experience of others. 

 The first few years are full of hope, for then all expenses can 

 be charged to improvements, but there comes a time when the 

 constant deficit is disconcerting. 



The writer is well aware of the fact that some large corporations 

 are making money in farming or in enterprises closely associated 

 with farming. He has probably visited as many such farms as 



