St. Landry democrat., 1881-09-17
Stories OF Amateur Farmers.

and a pickaX. An improved harrow
struck his fancy, and he seemed dis
posed to buy it; but friend who was
with him persuaded him that the rake
would answer his purpose. After the
customer and his friend had gone out
the merchant in agricultural nipple
men1s said: THAT young man has re-
Gently bought very pretty country
place in New Jersey. His land is
quarter of an acre of sloping lawn.
1t is puzzle to some folks the
dealer went on, chow such stores as
this, situated remotely from the farm
ing districts, do a profitable business,
especially since there are in all such dis
tricts centers in which agricultural inn
plements are retaied to the farmers.
But if we depended on farmers for our
custom we would starve. | made my
first business venture with the late
Prof. Mapes, who was then interested
in the best-appointed agricultural I'M
plement warehouse in the country, and
l cannot call to mind that we had
among our many customers bona tlde
farmer. We had plenty of market gar
deners and lots of amateurs, but the
bulk of our trade was with gentlemen
who had places out of town. and the
mania they had for labor-saving and
improved implements was astonishing.
They would call daily on their way
home to see if we had anything new,
and if we had they would buy it, even
if it was of no more use to them than a
trombone.
The professor had among his friends
a large number OF prominent actors,
many of whom were experimental
farmers Among the most enthusiastic
were Burton. Blake, J. W. WalIack.
jefferson, Chanfrau, Adams and Harry
Placide. They were as innocent as
children, and when one Of them came
into the store he would act Ikea little
boy in toy shop, and want to buy ev-
ervthing we had. from a sausage-Stutter
to flour mill. We were cautioned not
to sell them anything without submit
ting it to the judgment OF the professor.
Wallack was particularly irascible when
his Judgment was questioned. He
once threatened to throw us overheard
because we advised him against pur-
chasing an eight-horse power threshing
possible chance have the ghtest use for.
"These actor farmers frequently
brought in samples OF soil to be ana
lived. and asked for advice as to the
kind of crops it was adapted to bear.
! remember Mr.. BlaSe brought in q
very small sample one time, and the
professor asked him why he didn't bring
more. He replied that that was ali he
could spare, and believed him.
lone day when the saiesmen were at
lunch and [ was alone, an old gentle
man came in. He told me that the lot
back of his barn held moisture for
weeks after rain, and asked me what
he had better do. advised subsoilng.
and showed him plows for the pur-
pose. They were OF various sizes, from
No. 6 to No. 9-from one-horse to
eight-oxen. He said they were just
the thing, but we differed as to the
size He insisted upon No. s, while
positively argued that q No. 6 would
answer his purpose. In rebuttal he
made the argument that one couldn' t
have too much of good thing. He
decided, however, on No. 6, and then
told me that he had considerable diff
Guilty in having his grass sown evenly;
that in some places it would come out
spots. recommended patent seed
sower, and showed him how it work ed.
His eyes sparkled with delight. He
told me to ship the plow, but the seed
sower he would carry home, because,
he said. when its merits were fully ex-
planned there would be such devil OF
run on them that they couldn't be had
anywhere for love or money!
s.When the Professor returned and
looked over the sales, / saw that he was
startled.
'..Tom,' said he. did you sell these
things to Blaisdell?'
6. Yes, SIR said l.
'''He bought subsoil pillow, find?'
Yes, sir: he wanted to subsoil
some marshv land back of his barn, and
l recommended a pillow. He wanted a
No. s, but persuaded him that No.
6 would do l told him, however, if il
was not large enough that we would
"'Loek here interrupted the Pro.
you also recommend that?'
"'Yes. SIR l replied, becoming
slightly nervous: you see, the grass on
most OF his meadows grows uneVenlt,
in tufts in some places and leaves bare
spots in others. SO when l explained
how the sower worked, he said it was
Just the thing he wanted
Gas l saw fire flashing from the Pro-
fessor's spectacles. became alarmed,
and, in order to appease him, told him
that all was paid for.
".Paid for!' he howled, with indig-
nation. why, didn't you know that
he is my old friend Blaisdell, of the
Museum? He has an acre and quarter
of scrub oak out in Jersey. He hasn't
swamp enough in his back lot to water
q SHINE. and you have sold him q seed.