FARMERS’ DON'TS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 312, 24 March 1928, Page 25

FARMERS’ DON'TS

SAGE PARS FROM SCOTLAND “DON’T DESPISE RESEARCH” A writer in the “Scottish Farmer” who for years has written Farm Prospects for that journal under the pen name “Arthur’s Seat,” in his last article before retirement, compiled for unsuccessful farmers the following “dont’s”: Don’t be afraid to be unorthodox, so long as you retain your common sense. Don’t despise your forefathers, but, for any sake, b© able to distinguish between their wisdom and their folly. Don’t expect your landlord to help over much; he cannot afford it. Don’t sign conditions of let or a lease which you have not read or do not understand, once you have read it. Don’t expect youLr creditors to release you from your obligations. Don’t despise research > it is about the only thing likely to do agriculture much good. Don’t grudge money spent on research, especially when the money is not your own. Don’t refuse a fair profit; if you do, you are a gambler out and out. Don’t manage your farm by proxy if you can do it yourself. Proxies

are often expensive no matter how honest. Don’t grudge your men a good wage wage well paid workers are other kind. If you have the right sort, the more you pay them (within reason) the greater will be your profit. Don’t settle your accounts over a pint of beer. A glass of milk is cheaper and better. Besides, bydrinking milk you are supporting your own industry. Don’t borrow money when you are fully mortgaged. It is criminal in these bad times. Don’t buy too much artificial manure if you can get plenty of dung, because the latter helps the soil in two ways. Most people value farm yard manure far too cheaply. class stuff is worth anything up to £1 per ton, although most farmers grudge paying 10s, which is a mistake. Don’t use artificial fertilisers of low analysis. The higher the analysis the cheaper the manure. Don’t rent a farm of 100 acres when you can as easily rent one of 500 acres. Don’t cultivate land which is worth less than £1 an acre; it doesn’t pay. Don’t buy, out of youu. own country, what you can buy in it. Don’t go to the market when you have nothing to sell. Don’t sell produce just to get ready cash. When you reach this stage it is time you were out. Get ready cash elsewhere if you can. If you cannot, you have no right to be farming. The difference in cash between a forced sale and a willing one is always more than the interest on accommodation money. Don’t buy stock which you can breed on the premises. Don’t sell from your farm any produce which you can use in your own household. It is cheaper (with few exceptions) to produce than to buy. Don’t pay income tax when you have a loss. But if you do not keep books you may bo called upon during a leas© to pay hundreds of pounds which you need not pay. Don’t grouse at the weather. Real gamblers never grumble when they back losers. Besides, part of your rent is paid for the weather. Don’t work with your hands (except for exercise) when your brain is more useful.