Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-25

fectly dry for more than tbree.fourths its
length. The result Of this partial irriga.
ton was belt Of thrifty smart weed run.
ming nearly across the pasture. This dis
covery worried Mr.. Greeley considerably,
and with some other neglected things on
the farm furnished the main subject Of con-
versation at the dinner table.
"Stuart," he said to his foreman, want
you to take the men aud some hoes and fix
that ditch after dinner. Garretsee says
that barn grass in the upper orchard ought
to be moved or it viii smother the seeding
You must hitch on to the moving machine
and NOV it. That orchard wants trimming,
too; the limbs hang clear down to the
ground. You must slick up a little ev-
erytbing looks shiitless aud neglected this
running for President and running farm
at the same time is not just the thing"
We vonturod to suggest that he could not
make much Roadway with moving ma
chine under the trees and there was hardly
room to drive between them that hoes
we're not Just the tools to FIX his ditch with
that if he would furnish a couple Of show
els we would try our hand with him at
ditching after dinner that although he
might beat us at ohopping, we thought we
could hold our own with him in ditch.
&c don't brag much on chopping," said
he. d" | do it more for exercise and recroa-
ton than anything else, but will take your
offer on ditching"
As soon as he had finished his dinner he
showed back from the table, and told Stu
art to look up a couple Of shovels aud take
them up on the hill. "Garrctsee and |
will 90 across and meet you there" After
considerable delay, caused probably by the
shovels not being in any particular place,
they arrived The work was soon done,
and the water sent along in the way II
should CO. "There,' said MIR. Greeley, ." !
don't sleep any too well any way but
shall sleep better now that job is done"
Passing by patch Of Canada thistles he
said Providence undoubtedly E, tet
| Canada thistles for some good pur' s, bu
fail to see what it is. They might D.
used to reclaim the desert of Sahara. Il
planted there their long roots would bring
to the surface mineral fertilizers and make
productive soil Of it,
We have expressed our views freely ant
without reserve of the thirty different far
mers we have already written up and hav,
said Of them more shan we feel at libertl
to say of Mr. Greeley. lie has done mucl
good work for the country with his pen
more, probably than any living man. Blu
as q practical farmer we do not consde
him u success. He seems to lack the OK
ecutiyo ability necessary to direct and man
age his workmen. His good nature make
him an easy prey for lazy, designing men
One good working foreman with lahore
inder him should do everything to be don
on the few acres under cultivation, and d
it well, much better than the three or fou
constantly employed.
Our readers would laugh heartily to Sc,
as we did, three stout men loading hay o
an ox-cart without any rack tying it o
with ropes and hauling it with slow yok
Of oxen up a long bill to the barn, the ha
itself completely spoiled by exposure t
sun and dow.
As to the profits Of Mr. Greeley's farm
ing, we leave our readers to Judge. II
says that " he does not complain" His in
come returns from the farm stand on til
Internal Revenue book thus
For stock sold 500
For produce sold 100
Cos; of producing 500