The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-07-25

ne just used tho outlandihli word sos
to get me TO ask him what it meant
and then he'd show off his larnin'. But
wasn't 80 green"
81 wonder If he thinks he's comm
here TO larn MS old farmers how to do
world" said Sawyer, quite Indignantly.
Gle thinks 80" returned Grummet
"Then he'll find out his mistake"
added the other. "You mark my words,
Ben, he'll be fiat on his back afore two
years is ont"
And these were not the only ones
who looked for the same thing. The
idea ofa mans coming in there with
any auch new-fanglcd notions was NIB
surd.
Autumn came, and after John Wal
ton had moved over his twenty-acre
/ iield--soIne of his coldest and stiaest
Land getting hardly enough to pay for
lthe labor, he set tho man at work dig
Igsas tasg trenches all over il. Iie hal
two dug lengthwise, running up aud
down tho slope; and then be dug quite
a number running across there. They
were quite deep and broad, aud into
them be tumbled nearly all the stones
TINT could be found in the fields.
"a pooty expensive way of getting
rid Of your rocks" remarked Grummet
"It's better place for them than on
tho surface, isn't iti' returned Walton,
with smile.
Perhaps. But what on earth are
We doin It forl7
''Why, I'm going to see If under
draining won't improve the land.
10 underdrainingl What's thatr
ut is simply drawing of the water
from the surface. This land il cold
and wet; but if / can get the water 10
drain of among these rocks, the sun
may warm the surface and give me a
good piece Of soil here.
But Il looked very foolish to Ben
Grummet. He believed that "what
was the nature Of the soil couldn't be
altered
That's sur'us enntrivanee," said
Sam Bancroft. He and Ben Grutnmet
had been at work for Walton hauling
muck. He alluded to large vat at
the back Of the house, into which ran a
spout from the sink. This vat was ca
Fable Of holding several cart-loads Of
stuff, and was about half FOIL
That's a con post vat,7 explained
Walton, who overheard the remark.
i" All the slops from the house tho
soapsuds and such stuif-wliieh most
peop.e waste, save by this means. and
turn 70 good account aud, instead OF
throwing away refuse matter, | put il
in here, and let il rot and ferinent and
make manure"
"a But what's this charcoal dust for r
"It answers two purposes, though by
only one office. IL takes up the am
monia and other volatile matter. thus
holding them for fcrtilizing agents, and
1T the same time prevents the disagree.
able eilluvia which would otherwise
arise from such fermenting mass"
".rhat all sounds very we'll, remarked
Ben, after Walton had left them "but
let me tell you, it don't pay He'd bet
ter let such fundangles alone if he ever
expects TO make livin' at farmin'"
Before the ground froze out, Walton
threw ont most Of the muck behind his
stable, which had become well saturated,
and filed the trench anew
The old farmers had great many
apple trees, and made great deal Of
cider; but tho fruit was of an inferior
quality When spring came, Walton
went to some Of his neighbors, and
asked them to go in with him and send
for some good scions TO engraft upon
their apple.trees lie explained T.
them just the plan he had formed 70,
his own orchard. lie had engaged a
competent man to come aud do the
work of grating, and, while they were
about it, il would be cheaper to get
CRAFTS enough for The whole neighbor
hood.
It was Of no use. The old orchards
were just such as their fathers bad, and
were good enough. So Walton went al
it alone. He had his trees all prunet
and dressed, and nearly all of then
grated to such fruit as he thought
would thrive and sell best.
A little while later and Ben Grum
met had OCCASION to open his eyes. HI
found that John Walton had contriveC
to have l04 full loads of manure, all o
which had been made within the year
However, he finally shook his head anC
said: Wait; We'll see if it's good fol
anything"
, A little while later, and the grass be
! gan to spring up on the twenty-acre 10
, as it had never sprung up before, th'
two acres, which had been plowed anc
! narrowed up light and fine, being th,
best crop Of corn that was grown in tn,
I whole county, and oil the manure pu
/ upon it was some that had been manu-
a factured.
] And SO the time went on, and Johi
Walton was continually studying hoI
to improve his farm. At the expiration
. Of a few years the new scions had grow
i large and strong in his orchard, an
: began to bear fruit. He had taken car
of his trees, and they were about to re
4 turn him interest for his labor
Good gracious p calculated Ebe
n Sawyer as Ben Grummet and Sam Bar
g croft came into the house one coo
autumn evening, and the three file
o their mugs with new cider have 20
heard about John Walton's apples :"
% knew there was man up to loo
at 'em," returned Ben, "but I ain
heerd no more"
n "Well, / was there, an .heerd IL
= | whole ~, IL so 7 know never Nyoll