Democratic messenger., 1881-09-10
FARM AND GARDEN.

always of practical value, and worth re-
calling at frequent intervals. The dra-
matis person9 are two brothers-sons
of a representative of the old type of
New England farmer-the elder of
whom. George, went West, but finding
that fortune would require about the
same equivalent of perspiration there
as at the East, he returned to the old
homestead, and shared it with Robert
In equal division, each working on his
own account. GA farm it was with
more acres than fertility; more build
ings and fences than crops" We quote
from this point the writer's own words
who modestly hides behind the nom
de plume "Egrib" omitting some of
his lnte1Jected reflections solely for the
sake OF saving space:
In certain parts of the Rocky Noun
talns the deviation of an inch deter
mines whether a raindrop flows into the
Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. A broken
cart axle taught Robert Stuart how to
overcome Western competition. The
sun shone like fury, and the whitening
heat came down with fervency that
seemed to make it rebound again from
the earth. "This is corn weather.
sure" thought Robert, as he sat. hoe in
hand, and with aching back, looking
down grassy row. "This corn ought
to stretch up little faster" But the
truth was, the corn, like hungry man.
had to stretch very hard to get as far as
1t WAS. As he sat there contemplating
the spotted and weakly growth of his
crop, one rank dark green hill caught
his eye. 1t stretched up above its
neighbors and spreading its leaves wide
around seemed to drink in all the heat
the opulent sun poured on its place.
When Stuart carted his manure the
cart axle broke, dropping his load on
the ground. After clearing away the
load half peck or more was left here
IN hole. This hill grew upon that
place. Stuart pondered these facts and
put them together this way and that.
much as you would manipulate a "gem
puzzle" to get the right combination.
At last he finished hoeing and went ND
to the house apparently as he came.
But who can estimate unseen forces
He carried back in his head one end of
a train of thought, which. being pursued
to its conclusion, lifted him out of q
pioddlng, wearisome life to noble po-
sltlon IN the n1blest of callings. All
the summer and fall he worked on in
the old way, but still thinking ont the
problem of that hill of corn. Four tall
rank stalks and upon each two we'll
filled ears at husking time solved his
problem. "Other things being equal
why Is not every hill like that ?" thought
he. The answer was too obvious to be
evaded.
Stuart did not become model farmer
that autumn or the next summer. His
stable manure went out port-hole un-
der the caves and his barnyard drained
into the road as before. He had ewes.
but he saw not. But he was making
movement upward. Let us have pa
tience. The most stable constructions
are of slowest growth. Chow much
corn are you going to plant, Bob ?'
asked George, the next spring. 81
don't know. As much as [ can ma
nure," said Robert. In the division of
the farm ten-acre meadow had been
divided equally. OF nearly uniform
fertility, it bore about half ton or less
of hay to the acre. Said George
Suppose we plow up the big meadow
and plant it to corn. 1t will look nice
all in one piece" 'I shall hardly have
enough manure for my half, I'm afraid"
said Robert. 80, pshaw, put what
you've got and a little something in the
hill, =" said George.
Robert did not reveal his determine.
tion, but offered, if George wanted to
plow his five acres, to plow as much of
his as he thought he could enrich.
George pressed him to pillow the whole.
but could not alter his decision. George.
however, sprinkled what manure he had
over his five acres and plowed it. Rob-
ert's course disgusted him. care you
making compost heap or what ?" said
he, coming along where Robert was
spreading on prodigal coat of manure.
81 am going to try and raise as much
corn as you, and not hoe so much
ground" was the answer. "You had
better plant in your barn-yard and save
trouble of hauling" said George. And
the prospect was doubtful to Robert,
for when he was ready to plaw he had
only an acre and q quarter covered.
But resolution once formed by him
became incrusted with silica.
Having but little ground to prepare
he took care to do it well and no scalp
licks were left to mark the triumph of
carelessness or inefficiency. The sight
of that crop put new life into him all
summer. His blood flowed quicker
Els eye saw further and deeper both
its telescope and microscopic power
were augmented. When the crop was
harvested the foundations were laid for
a more hopeful future. His mind had
something on which to work. No fear
now that he would fall back upon row
dyism aud vice rs an antidote for the
tameness and monotony of treadmill life.
For active young life must do something
with its heart in it, 1t has got to.
"Well," said George, show much
corn have you got? I've got 200 bush
els of good ears and Sc bushels of nub-
bing eff my piece" ''I've 212 bushels of
good ears" answered Robert. "How
much small?' "Not half bushel."
'If you had done as [ told You you
would have got more corn." eyes,
more small corn, but my land will raise
good crop next year without anv
manure; and on your five acres, why,
the very weeds will have the yellow
jaundice. George, | have made a reso-
luton not to cultivate where | can't
manure" "You'll do big things then
ii you are going to put all your crops
on to an acre and quarter every year..
"Next year this corn ground will raise
its crops without any more manure and