Part II.] BUSINESS ORGANIZATION. 145 



criminal unconcern upon others for the necessaries of life beyond 

 his immediate wants. True, cold storage, canning and other 

 methods have developed within the last few years, but the 

 farmer is the final bulwark of safety, and only his neglect has 

 permitted these agencies to develop and absorb the profits which 

 rightly belong to him. We can, however, overorganize. There 

 are two ways to destroy the value of the farm to society, — 

 first, overorganize or commercialize it; secondly, let it fall so 

 far behind in the industrial race that those interested in it, or 

 upon whom its future depends, quit in contempt or discourage- 

 ment. To avoid such a calamity the first requisite is an ideal, 

 a vision of the great opportunity furnished by agriculture to do 

 something worth while, the success in accomplishing which 

 depends upon the quality and amount of brains, skill, cunning 

 and hard work employed. The farmer should himself show a 

 higher respect for his business. 



The first great product of the farm is the home, the great 

 source of stamina and moral fiber, the source of that un- 

 described but definite something influencing a man to shape his 

 life by a principle; here is developed ingenuity and inventive 

 genius, as well as a wilful determination to succeed and the 

 physical strength to sustain. 



The farm, however small, should be organized in detail as a 

 solid business unit. Buildings should be so placed in relation 

 to each other and in view of the duty to be performed so that 

 time, labor and investment will be reduced to a minimum. 



Build in proportion to the business. Avoid a $1,000 barn for 

 a $100 crop. Watch details. Avoid waste. Seek a balance in 

 the various departments. The barn, shed, outbuildings and 

 house should have such a relation to each other in size and con- 

 venience as to perform their functions at proportionate expense. 



There are three classes of farmers, — first, the farmer of ne- 

 cessity, who has inherited a farm, and cannot get money enough 

 to leave it. He has not the stamina to let go of the old ideas 

 and undertake new methods, nor to play the long game, either 

 because he does not know it or can not afford it. Necessity 

 compels a crop for which his place is often not adapted and 

 seldom prepared. Thus the industry is injured and his children 

 ill fitted for a place in society. 



