The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-10-18

mans coming in there with any such new
tangled notions was absurd.
Autumn came, and after John Walton
had moved over his twenty.acre field
some of his coolest and stiifest land--get.
ting hardly enough hay to pay for the
labor, he set the men at work digging deep
trenches all over it. He had two dug
lengthwise, running up aud down the
slope; and then he dug quite a number
running across these. They were quite
deep and broad, and into them he tumbled
nearly all the stones that could be found
in the fields.
"a pooty expensive way Of gettin' rid
of your rocks, remarked Grummet.
"lt's n better place for them than on
the surface, isn't it?' returned Walton,
with smile.
Perhaps But what on earth are ye
doin II for?"
"Why I'm going to sec if undertaking
won't improve the land"
Undertaking What's that?"
II is simply drawing off the water from
the surface. This land is cold and wet;
but if | can get the water to drain off
among these rocks. the sun may warm the
surface and give me good piece Of soil
here"
But it looked very foolish to Ben Grum-
met. He believed that "what was the
natur' of the soil couldn't be altered"
"That is a Gurus contrivance," said
Sam Bancroft. He and Ben Grummet
had been at work for Walton hauling
muck. He alluded to large vat at the
back Of the house, into which ran u spout
from the sink. This vat was capable of
holding several cart loads of stuff and was
about half full.
That's compost vat" explained Wal
ton, who had overheard the remark. Gan
the slops from the house-the soapsuds
and such stuff-which most people waste,
save by this means, aud turn to good ac-
count; and, instead of throwing away re-
fuse matter, | put it in here, and let it rot
and ferment and make manure"
"But what's this charcoal dust for? ?"
at answers two purposes, though by
only one Office. 1t takes up the ammonia
and other volatile matter, two fertilizing
agents, and at the same time prevents the
disagrecable effluyia which would other
wise arise from such fermenting mass.
"That all sounds very WELL" remarked
Ben, after Walton had left them; "but, lei
me tell you, it won't pay He'd dbetter lei
such fandangles alone if he ever expect:
to make livin' at farmin'."
Before the ground froze out, Walton
threw out most Of the muck behind his
stable, which had become well saturated
and filed the trench up anew.
The old farmers had a great many apple
trees, and made a great deal Of cider; but
the fruit was of an inferior quality. When
spring came, Walton went to see some Of
his neighbors, and asked them TO 90 in
with him and send for some good scions tc
engraft upon their apple trees. He ex.
planned to them just the plan he had
formed for his own orchard. He had en-.
gagged q competent man to come and dc
the work of grafting, and, while they were
about it, it would be cheaper to get gratis
enough for the neighborhood,
1t was Of no use. The old orchards
were just such as their fathers had, and
were good enough. So Walton went at it
alone. He had his trees all pruned and
dressed, and nearly all Of them grated To
such fruit as he thought would thrive and
sell best.
A little while later, and Ben Grummet
had occasion to open his eyes. He found
that John Walton had contriyed to have
l0l full loads Of manure, all Of which had
been made within the year. However, he
finally shook his head and said await;
Wen see if it's good for anything
A little while later, aud the grass began
to spring up on the twenty-acre lot as il
had never sprung up before, the two acres,
which had been plowed and narrowed up
light and fine, being the best crop Of corn
that was grown in the whole county, and
all the manure put upon il was some that
had been manufactured.
And so the time went on, and John
Walton was continually studying to i'm
prove his farm. At the expiration Of a
few years the new scions had grown large
and strong in his orchard, and began to
bear fruit. He had taken care of his trees,
aud they were about To return him inter.
est for his labor.
"Good gracious p calculated Eben Saw.
yer as Ben Grummet and Sam Bancroft
came into the house one cool autumn even.
ing, and the three filed their mugs with
new cider shave Won heard .hon9 JoLu
Walton's spples ~
sT knew there was a man mn 70 look a,
'en, returned Rem "but 7 a;n't bo,rd No
more
GWeII. I Was ,bore and haasa ,ha ,vholo
of Il, 50 / know. never would have be.
lieyed n orchard ,n,a on, oo sta ,hot >
"But how was it9p
"Why, Walton was olFered-cosh risb,
down-s5OO for tho annlcs ha,s rot On
hand and he tells ma ~ sent ne.y,S sa00
worth Of early fruit off a month or 40 aro. .
1t was wonderful-more than wonder.
full Br. thew had 10 bsl;sve i,