St. Landry democrat., 1884-10-18
A Rsa.t!!.ll!!ng Farm.

he was SlLCing on q store DOX IN 'front.'
of the village store, whiting and talk
ing to small crowd. Something about
the man and the way he emphasized
his statements made me suspicious that
he was not altogether reliable. Not
being q farmer of course prevented me
from questioning what he said, but the
manner left me in such doubt that T
said nothing, and sat on the salt barrel,
q very interested listener, and at least
thought that if half what he said was
true it was certainly something wonder
ful.
He was talking about farming lands
when | came, and heard this much:
snow, there's that land of mine down
at the Forks. I've cultivated it
seventeen years, and it has never needed
any fertilizers. It's too rich now.
Why, when 1 put in my corn in the
spring [ have to lay boards over every
row, because it jumps up so suddenly
that it would jump clear out of the
ground. At first lost all my corn that
way until I got to knowing how to pre-
vent it. One year / had great trouble
with my neighbor. had planted my
watermelons and pumpkins on that
side, and in few days the vines all got
through the fence onto his land and he
claimed the fruit. We had several
fights over it, and / threatened to cut
the vines off, but he said he would have
me arrested for iniuring his property.
But we finally compromised on shares.
If would leave the old cornstalks stand
ing they would sprout. but of course the
ears would not be as large as the others.
What is the use of ME cutting down
treesP the stumps shoot right up again
and are soon as large as before. Every
grain of wheat sprouts at both ends and
makes two stalks. What want is some
kind of depilatory that will reduce the
growth. 1t is impossible to drive q
reaper into my wheat, it is so thick.
We go into it with handsaws. kept
sheep on that land for year, but the
wool grew so wonderfully it smothered
all the flock. / had to give it up. My
cattle, from walking in that ground so
much, are troubled with q wonderful
growth of legs, can't hardly reach the
cows to milk them. have noticed that
the brick-bats that were thrown out
have all grown into full-sized bricks;
too large to haul off; all on account of
the soil. Everything comes up without
any care; even the COWS come up with
out calling. The land itself continually
expands, and it keeps ME busy putting
extra panels into the fences, and my
neighbors are constantly growing
about encroachment, but how can |
help itp 1t is not my fault. The hoe,
Ratchet, pillow, scythe and axe handles
4 L. o3f orlT
would be too long for use. put q
pump in the well this spring, but the
blamed stock took root and began to
grow, and until sawed it off we could
get no water, But our feet! Mercy.
That is one thing that worries me to
death; those OF the children are awful,
but # can't be stopped. Even
a hole. in my clothes gets a start and
grows when / amt thinking about
It, and in short time the hole absorbs
all the garment. Have to saw the
pumpkins up into pieces before / can do
anything with them, or get them off the
farm. Why, gooseberries grow so fast
they don't get any time to getsour enough
to suit the grocery keepers. Tobacco
leaves are so thick through, that you
only have to cut them up into plugs of
the right thickness. Couldn't sell my
lastyear's crop of potatoes at all, be-
cause, you see, people want them of a
size that will go into the boiling pot. |
can start to town with ten pounds of
butter and it will be fifteen before | get
there, and how load of hay grows! It
beats all. Our hers don't caclde over
anything less than two eggs at a time.
Built new log house last spring, and
the COMPOUNDED logs didn' t stop growing
all the carpets are about four feet too
short now; limbs, are growing out all
over the house tiIg you can't see it. and
we can't sleep at night for the cracking
continually going on, as the house ex-
pands. Too much work for us gather
ing the crops, and I'm getting old.
Came to town to-day thinking if | had a
good offer / don't know but what |
would let her go. None of you gents
know of anybody who wants to buy just
such farm?
| did not have the price of the farm
with me, and / wandered away in an
excited state of mind, and have since
laid awake, wondering if such man
could b, believed. If I wrong him, I
earnestly beg his pardon at this dis
lance. -PrairSe Farmer.