Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1876 — New Year Thoughts. [ARTICLE]

New Year Thoughts.

At the beginning of a new year evety farmer ought to review the past year’s operations and endeavor to draw from his successes and failures lessons which will be of great value to him in the coming year’s labors. We believe one of the most serious obstacles to success, among farmers, is a want of close observation and comparison ot results. Very rarely are accounts kept with fields, crops or stock, and, whether failure or success attends any particular venture, causes that led to them are not sought for. The same thing is repeated next year, the same errors blundered into, with invariably the same results. A careful record of successes and failures of the year, with observation of causes, probable or certain, would help very much’ in the plans for the year to come. The time is most favorable for this retrospection and the forming and perfecting plans for the future. It is not only the close of a year, but it is the actual close ot a season’s work on the farm. Every crop has been garnered and sold, perhaps, even to the hog crop itself, and no other entries are required. It is a season of comparative leisure, also, giving plenty of time for this most important work. No wise man, whatever his occupation, will neglect this cleaning-up process—this starting anew. Such a system places guideboards, so to speak, at every turn of the road, warning of danger or pointing to safety and success. Good resolutions, promising reform, are also now in order. There are plenty of men who fcnow how to do better than they practice. Hundreds will give the willing assent of the mind to a plain, practical exhortation on duty, who never go any farther. If anyone is conscious of imperfections in method or practice, let him now resolve to amend, and endeavor to accomplish all that is possible during this centennial year of 1876—the 100th of American independence. There is no time to spare. A year passes very quickly. If we would accomplish a good year’s work we must not only labor energetically, but thoughtfully, wisely, judiciously, taking advantage of every help which our own experience or that of others will afford us.— Ohio Farmer.