ADDRESS. 19 



animals, milk, or meat, with milk and meat consumed by the family, 

 with labor performed by the teams, either for others, or for the differ- 

 ent sections of the farm, to which it is to be charged as shown, and 

 finally, with a fairly estimated valuation of stock on hand at close of 

 year. The balance shows the gain or loss, arising from the keeping 

 of stock. The value of such an account would be sometliing surpris- 

 ing. For instance, a simple calculation and sifting of the details, 

 would show the exact cost of feeding, or rearing any animal. 



Vehicles and tools should be charged with valuation at outset, with 

 repairs and renewals, including cash actually paid and labor perfoi med 

 by the farmer himself, or his men, and credited with value at end of 

 year. The balance would show cost of use of tools and vehicles, which 

 should be properly di\ided up, and charged off to the various sections 

 of the farm. The Homestead and lot should be charged with valua- 

 tion, with interest, and its share of taxes and insurance, (as indeed 

 should every other section of the farm) with repairs and labor expended, 

 and credited with valuation at close of year. The balance would show 

 the cost of rent, properly chargeable to family expenses. 



Family expense account should be charged with valuation of furni- 

 ture, with cash paid duiing the year for additions to the same, with 

 balance of homestead account, representing the rent, with all expen- 

 ditures for food, clothing and the supply of all the miscellaneous wants 

 of the family, and with everything produced upon the farm, which is 

 consumed by them, estimating as nearly as may be, in cases where 

 entire accuracy cannot be attained, and credited at close of year, with 

 valuation of furniture, increased as it may be by additions, or dimin- 

 ished by breakage, wear and depreciation. The balance of this account, 

 would show the exact expense of living, for the year. 



Here then you have, very roughly sketched, a system of accounts 

 for a farmer. The balances of his various accounts, taken in detail, 

 show just where he has made or lost money, and if the same or similar 

 result follow the operation of successive years, he is thereby warned, 

 and can profit by the experience. From these accounts he can calcu- 

 late with unerring certainty, the exact cost of everything produced, 

 including even interest, taxes, and repairs of tools. He has the entire 

 business tabularized, and can at his leisure, during winter evenings, 

 march his columns in review before him, and study to some purpose, 

 to reduce costs, and save expenses. 



Of course the first thought that arises in reference to all this, is that 

 it is too complicated, and thoughts perhaps not complimentary to the 

 speaker, will flit through your minds, to the effect that it is absurd to 

 expect the farmer, at the close of a hot day's hard work, to devote the 

 necessary time to book-keeping ; and I fancy I can trace on the coun- 

 tenances of some, evidence of a feeling near akin to this ; that it is well to 

 talk about having plenty of capital, but how is one to get it, if he does 

 not happen to have it; and another, moved by the holy horror of being 

 in debt, which almost universally actuates the New England farmer, 



