Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-09-01
Aiseellamp.
Whatka Brattleboro Boy has Done
in Horticulture.

-
The Brattleboro Phenix of last week
gives an interesting account Of what
Brattleboro boy has done during tn
last three or four years in horticulture
1t appears that in February 1868, Chas
L. Allen of that place, then lad of II
years, read an article in that paper which
reused his ideas, and is thus stated by
the Phenix:
ut was the story of two clerks who
on the failure of their employer, were
offered, as payment for their services, a
choice between 500 in money and a
piece ofland of the same value-that be.
ing the amount of the merchants indebt-
edness to EACH The elder clerk who
had the first choice, didn't care to soil
his delicate fingers by working in the
soil, and so, very naturally, chose the
money; but the younger clerk was not
ashamed to wear old clothes and handle
the hoe and spade, and by devoting his
land to raising of early vegetables and
fruits for the market, and by the cult va
ton of industrious and economical hab-
its, he earned for himself and widowed
mother a comfortable income, and in a
few years, by the raise in the value Of
his land, and his own accumulations,
achieved permanent success in business,
while his fellow clerk failed to raise
above the position of counter-jumper.
This story, well written and claiming to
be a veritable history, awoke in the mind
of young Allen a desire to try his hand
at market gardening; and, obtained per-
mission of his father-though without
any ADDITIONAL encouragement--th fol-
lowing spring he set out patch ofstraw-
berry plants, from which the next year
he realized the sum of $40. Thus slim
ulated, he went on and took up the cul-
tivation of other crops, and has since
supplied our markets with variety of
early faults and vegetables, towering
plants, etc. This year he had early peas
in market at the 10th of June, and his
proceeds from this one item amounted to
500 Last spring he sold 5000 sweet
potato plants, (ofthe Nansemond varie-
typ 1000 tomato plants, and 10000 cab
bage plants, while his sales of strawber-
ry plants, early Wilson's) this season
already amount to some q ,000 From
bis strawberry bed of 40 rods he has this
year marketed 1900 quarts of berries.
He has now 1000 tomato plants in bear
ing, from the product Of which, after the
demand for the fruit is over, he intends
to manufacture 1000 bottles of catsup.
He also has this season about one-third
of an acre, (lS,000 plants of sage. Of
flowers he has this year raised fine as
sortment, and intends to devote himself
more largely to their cultivation in the
future. AT present the greater part of
the premises, consisting of FIVE acres of
land, located on the hill at the south end
of Canal street, is devoted to the raising
OF these various crops, only the more i'm
portant of which we have here enumera-
ted. A year ago he commenced theerec-
ton of propagating house for the cul-
ture ofshrubs and towering plants, which
he completed during the winter, doing
the entire work himself The house is
80 to 20 feet in dimension; and for heat
ing purposes is fitted up with furnace
and pipes procured in New York at an
expense Of over $500. The total cost,
allowing fair estimate for his own time,
was about $1,000. Including the amount
required for hot beds, of which there are
four or five of large size, 1000 feet of
glass were necessary. What the entire
proceeds of the place for the present year
will amount to. cannot as yet be stated
with accuracy; suffice it to say, it will
greatly exceed what the proprietor could
have earned behind the counter and is
sufficient to stimulate him to increased
exertion."