UP-TO-DATE METHODS

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2188, 26 July 1928, Page 7

UP-TO-DATE METHODS

FARM ECONOMY. “Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves,” is an old saying full of significance to the farmer, especially the new settler who has many expenses to meet and is confronted by disadvantages, which limit his opportunities and restrict his means of revenue production. The average Australian is open-hand-ed to a degree, and nowhere are the men on the land more ready to Spend than in the recently settled areas. It might be thought that they have to work so hard for w'hat they they get that they would malintainj a close watch on their cheque books, but that is far from being the case. Let a call go forth for financial aid for a public purpose, such as the building of a hospital, or let it be known that a settler has experienced misfortunes which have involved him in heavy monetary losses, and those around him will immediately give their substances so that he may be enabled to tide over his difficulties. Such generosity cannot be too highly commended. It is splendid because of the fine, bighearted spirit at the back of it, and the fact that frequently the givers are living little better than a hand-to-mouth existence themselves.

Contrary to the prevalent belief, however, says the Adelaide Stock and Station Journal, it does not necessarily follow that the man who spends freely cannot also be a careful saver. As a matter of fact the man who consistently makes it a practice to put away every penny he can legitimately secure possession of is obviously likely to be in a better position to display liberality, whenever circumstances may warrant it, than the man who is more or less indifferent to the pennies and the half-pen-nies. It is no exaggeration probably, to say that, in the aggregate the primary pi’oducers of Australia lose hun dreds of thousands of pounds annually through lack of thought and want of care and thrift. They are so accustlines, and so familiar with the conditions which they have created, that they do not realise the consequence which these involve. A careful examination would almost certainly reveal that there is not a single farm, dairy, or orchard in the State on which avoidable loss does not occur during the year, and in numerous instanc'es', the sum totals would be found to be of astonishing proporI tions.

It is the duty of every producer to subject both his methods and his property to critical review, not only for his own sake and the sake of those dependent upon him, but also from the standpoint of national well-being. Where wastage of opportunities and of materials, etc., is permitted, the country as well as the individuals intimately concerned, suffer. In some cases, it is true, owing to the lack of moans —and this applies,of course, particularly to the men of limited capital, who have gone on the land in the last few years—losses occur, which cannot well be obviated, no matter how strong the desire of the settlers to prevent them. For- example, machinery and implements are allowed to remain in the open, exposed to all weathers, because the money necessary to construct sheds, in which to house them properly, is not available. At the same time, cron* may be left unfenced, a prey to any livestock that may come along. One can sympathise sincerely with the men who, through no fault of their own, are placed in such a position. It is a point worth emphasising, however, that rather than allow their equipment to suffer from the elements the most progressive men have promptly erected tempdrary shelters of poles and boughs, which they have rightly considered to be much better than nothing at all. Where farmers, orchardists, and so on have been established for years, there should be no excuse for leakages of any kind. It should be a rule not only to house all their mechanical plant satisfactorily, but also to maintain it in an efficient state of repair; to provide suitable accomodation for the horses, the cattle, the pigs, aye, and the poultry as well; to keep all the buildings in good order, to see that the fences are effective barriers, that the gates are sound and readily manipulated, and that evei’ything possible i is done to save both time and energy. Much of the loss suffered on the farm is attributable to procrastination. In other words, tasks which should be undertaken immediately are put off until serious trouble occurs. How many horses, for instance, have died because of the failure at harvest time to take adequate measures to prevent them from gaining access to the bags of wheat, and how many stock of one sort and another have lost their lives through the owners having neglected to lay in a supply of simple medicines ? Again, how many lambs have owed their destruction to the depredations of foxes, because farmers, instead of laying poisoned baits in good season, have waited until after the lambing has got well under way before doing so? And further, what heavy toll of crops and pastures has been taken by

the rabbits, because the landowners have.not persisted in their efforts to eradicate, or at least, control the pest? Another direction in which losses are suffered is in t'he use of inferior stock. The fact is not appreciated as it ought to be, that it costs just as much to feed a poor animal as it does a good one, whereas the former can never have the value of the latter either as a selling proposition or breeder. It pays far better to give big sums for high-class stock than to purchase poor animals at low pi’ices, and quite apart from the financial aspect of the busines, there is much more satisfaction in keeping them. Another cause of loss ip the ravages of mice. The rodents are amongst the worst enemies to the wheat farmer and in> some years when the conditions favour their rapid multiplication, are responsible for tremendous havoc. Normally, however, it is not a difficult matter to keep them in subjection, a fact which, happily, is being realised more and more now. It has become quite common now to see the haystacks surrounded by galvanised iron barriers, and the use of did galvanised : tanks ! as siilos for. oats is being increasingly favoured. Unfortunately, in consequence of neglect, or want of knowledge, regarding the climbing capabilities of mice, the barriers round the stacks do not always fully serve their purpose, with results: which are both disappointing and regrettable. One could continue almost indefinitely to quote illustrations of the kind which have been given, but sufficient has been said to demonstrate the need, not only for the men on the land to scrutinise what they are doing, but also to remember that the greater the savings which they effect, ‘the greater will be their opportunities to help themselves and to help others.