562 BOOK-KEEPING. 



PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR BOOK-KEEPING B\ 



FARMERS. 



Nearly every person keeps a memorandum of contracts made and the 

 payments of money, but how many cultivators of the soil keep an 

 account with each crop, to see if it is raised at a profit, or results in a 

 loss. 



The question of whether a crop has resulted in a profit can be easily 

 figured, provided the entries are made when transpiring, and not left to 

 become a question of memory. 



Let us take for example a crop of corn. First determine the number 

 of acres planted, and, at the estimated value of the farm, charge up as 

 an expense against the corn crop the interest on the value of the land. 

 Reckon the interest at the legal rate in the State where located. 



Next, keep account of the number of days spent in putting the land 

 in order, and place that on the debit side against your crop. Then 

 charge the seed used, the fertilizers, the time spent in cultivating, the 

 time occupied in gathering the crop, preparing for market, and deliver- 

 ing it. Then charge up an equitable amount of the taxes, and general 

 wear on the tools and general decrease in value of the farmer's appa- 

 ratus, and general expenses such as fencing, etc., etc. This will make 

 up the sum total to be charged against the crop. 



On the credit side should be placed the amount received from the 

 proceeds of the sale of the product. Also credit the crop with what- 

 ever fodder, or other product left and used on the farm, as a fertilizer, 

 or as fodder for cattle or other stock. If there has been a crop of 

 pumpkins, squashes, or turnips raised among the corn, do not fail to 

 give the land due credit for all that it produces. 



In computing the value of the work done by the farm teams, it would 

 be hardly fair to charge what the cartman might get for a single day's 

 work, but by getting at the cost of keeping a team for a year, the 

 natural depreciation in their value, together with a moderate charge 

 for caring for the team and the cost of keeping shod and other expenses, 

 and dividing this sum by the average number of days the team will 

 work each year, the cost of a day's work by the team will be quite well 

 established. 



No special form of book is needed for such an account, and the 

 method is simple. The farmer, stockman or fruit-raiser will be well 

 repaid for his trouble and then feel he knows ^hi-b ei^ *»* Vis manj 

 crops yields him *h0. b*Rt a'-"?^-, 



