FARMING AS A BUSINESS.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 32, 29 November 1901, Page 4

FARMING AS A BUSINESS.

, Much interest has been aroused in the United States by. the publication of an article on "Business Methods in Farming." by Mr S. W. Allerton, of Chicago, which has been reproduced in nearly all the agricultural papei-s of the country. Mi ADerton claims that, from his office in,Chicago, he has managed 80,000 acres of farm land, half of the area being gr ass, -with great success. Thirty years ago, he began farming on 100 acres, and in three he saved L 650 from his;farm, getting a good living besides. Since that time he has bought and managed a great number of farms, and he has yet, he says, to make his first unprofitable investmeat* What his average annualprofit is he does not state, and he gives oniy one year's result on a single large farm in addition to what he says of his start in farming. On a farm of 3600 ac: e•, -which costs him only £l 4, 000, he made a net profit of £7400 in one year. While his farms are in one sense,, he says, managed at long range, they are "personally condticted," every crop being as much under his personal direction as if he followed the plough, seeded the land, and went into the harvest field himself, for each farm has its f reman, whose duty it is to keep the central office well informed of all local conditions and circumstances and to follow the instructions based partly .upon such information. Mr Allei t m intimates that he is in telephonic communication with all his farms and says that it -would be almost impossible to farm on the syndicate plan without this means of quick communication. With it, he is able to take speedy advantage of any sudden rise in market prices, which he reckons a great feature of his system. He can also buy scock, seed, or .other farm requisites, oh a large scale on the most favourable terms. Mr Allerton em- i phasises the need of a proper rotation of crops, -which is no peculiar- feature of his system, although it is too commonly neglected in the United States. He makes a great point of paying and housing his foremen well, and allowing them and their families privileges, such as those of keeping cows and poultry, so that they are contented and anxious to keep their places.