Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-13

labor, he set men at work digging Ceer
trenches all over it. He had two dug
lengthwise, running up and down the
slope, ard then he dug quite a number
running across these. These were quite
deep ami broad, and into them he tumoled
nearly all the stones that could be found
IN the fields.
"A pooty expensive way of gettin rio
O. rocks, " remarked Grummet.
"lt's better place for them than on the
surface, isn't it?" returned Walton, with
a smile
"Mebbe. But what on airth are yt
doin 1t for?"
"Why-I'm going 10 see under. drain
ing won t improve the land,
Understanding? What's that?"
at is simply drawing eff the watel
from the surface the laud is cold and
wet: but if can get the water to drain oil
among these rocks, the sun may warm the
surface, and give me good piece of 'oi
here.
But it looked very foolish to Ben Grum,
met. He believed that what was the
nature of the soil could not be altered.
However, the young man made MS
trenches .tumbled in the rockS-fled IN
on top with the loan he had originally re-
moved and then left it TO work tor itself q
while. 4 month later h plowed up twI
acres If it and he could see that the sol
had already changed wonderfully. After
this was done he cut his way to the muck
swamp and went to hauling out that
Article, which he deposited in various
places as he deemed proper.
That's a cur us ContrlyanCe, said Sam
Bancroft. He and Ben GIummet had
been at work for Walton hauling muck
He alluded to large vat back Of the
house into which ian spout from thu
sink. This vat was capable OF holding
several carloads and was already halt
full
chats a compost vat, " exclaimed Wal.
ton who had overheard the remark. All
the Stops from the houSe-the Soap-sudS
and such stuff (which most people wasted,
save by this means, and turn 1t to good
account; and instead of throwing away re
fuse matter | put it in here and let 1t rot
and ferment and make manure.
That all sounds very poorly, remarked
Ben, after Walton had left them; but lie
me jes' tell you, it Cont pay! He'd better
let such fandangIes alone if he ever expect
to make a livin' at farmn'. "
Before the ground froze up, Walton
threw out most of the muck back of hl,
tie-up, which had become well saturated
and filed the trench up ahew. When
apring came Walton went to some of his
neighOors and asked them to go IN witt
him and send for some good sclons to a Z
graft upon their apple trees. lie eXplalneo
to them Just the plan he had formed tol
his own orchard.
How much will it cost YOU" asked
Sawyer.
why" returned Walton, I'm going
into it thoroughly Ny orchard is s.
large one as yours is; and the trees ar
mostly thrifty and vigorous could b'
made So but with poor fruit. | men
to make thorough thing of it, and shtl
expenl hundred dollars this spring.
"What! A hundred dollars! In yo@
orchard2'
Eyes.
"Jewhiaker an broomsticks! When
gitmouey to play with Ill try it."
A little while latter and the grass begaj
to spring up on the twenty acre lotas II
never had prung up before; and as tim
went on John Walton was CoutnualI
STUDYING how to improve his farm.
Good gracious!' exclaimed Ebe'
| S lwyer, as Ben Grummet and Sam Ban
croft came into his house one cold au, UNI
evening, "have you herd about John Wa
tons apples?"
Yes, returned Ben. 81 was there al ,
heered the who'd on't-so know nov.
would ave thought it. An orchard turr
out like that!'
"And jes' look at the twenty-acre field,
said Bancroft. Five years ago J
wouldn't hardly pay for mowin,' !
didn't bear much else but podgum. No
look at it. Think o. the corn an whel
hes raised there; an this year be cy
more n forty tons of good hay from it,
eve was jest talkin about you, NJ
Walton, said Sawyer one day, as job
came into his house,
"Ah," returned John, as he took 500
by the fire. 81 hope you found nothn
bad to say to me.
Not bit of it. We was talkin' abon
she wonderful improvement you've maj
on the old place. and of the money yoD
make
and do you think it wonderfully
"But amt it?"
well" replied Walton, 81 don
know about that; bat I'll tell you what
do know; know there is no class of pc,
ole in the world who may read and stu
TO better advantage than farmers. Farm
Ing is a science, and he must be man {
more than ordinary capacit who can ma,
ter it all. In short, there is no branch
industry in the world which may not
followed to better advantage with a GOO
education. Bot farmers must not be atrn
of newspapers and books Tney won't,
they are wise. follow every advice whic
experimentalists give but they may stu
and reason and experiment for then
selves So | have done, and so mea
to do.
HIRns SIrRLEANS-