The Iola Register

WHAT ONE FARMER DID.

The year of 1887 was not one of the most prosperous for farmers in the West, and yet it was not a failure by any means. In Crawford county crops were as good, if not better, than in any section of the State, and we give below some facts and figures showing what one man did.

J. W. Wampler, of Grant township, owns 340 acres of land, and his ledger for 1887 makes the following showing:

PROFITS AND SALES FOR 1887,

We publish the above not to boom the Crawford county man, but to furnish such of our farmers as may need it a hint on book keeping. There is here and there in Allen county a farmer who can tell at the end of the year exactly what the year's business has been as accurately as the man above cited; but the most of them can only guess at it. It requires no argument to make it clear that a farmer who, at the end of the year, can look back and see exactly where and how his profits have been realized and where and how his losses have occurred stands a much better chance of doing a profitable business the following year than one who can only guess at these things. It is as necessary that a farmer should keep books as it is that any other business man should keep them. He should keep track of every foot of stock, what it has earned him or what it has cost and what he sold it for. He should keep watch of every field know what the crop cost him in seed and labor and what it brought him. And so all the way through. If you are a farmer, and have never tried it, try it this year and let the REGISTER know at the end of that time what you think of the plan.