New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
CASH IN COWS, PIGS, HENS.
ONE WOMAN FARMER HAS ALSO FOUND
THAT GARDEN VEGETABLES PAY.
JANEr r. r. REEFS GIVES A HUMOROUS STORY OF
HER REAL SUCCESS IN PRACTICAL
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
II so happened that I Unexpectedly came into
control Of n large household living in the country
The house pleasantly situated. the locality was
delightful the scenery inspiring. but no sooner ala
| turn to the consideration of the rear portions OIL
the place than my soul seized with dismay In
all directions neglect only too obvious. Over
two acres OF land presented the widest, most over
grown appearance; rank grass, weeds. briers and
vines Of every kind nourished at their own sweet
WILL while barn and deserted chcken-yard
formed the background OF wild blackberry and
raspberry bushes vying with each other In ram
pant growth and n henhouse was the resort or all
the pigeons OF the neighborhood.
oddly enough as now think. my economic soul
at once addressed Itself to household details. and
from horrned considerations Of the wilderness be-
fore me turned to practical questions OF home ex-
pensc.
How much" asked the housekeeper, does
your milk you month";?
vas almost stunned when she named the sum-
Why" said. with two or three acres Of land
goIng to waste do you pay such prices as that for
wholesale consumption"
set about making inquiries. and found that
farmers all around were prepared to furnish mix
at AZ cents a quart making a reasonable profit. In
stantly | realized that two or three cows would
soon pay far than their cost where the mar
ket was sure | Investigated the barn which was
had estimates upon stalls enlarged cowyard.
etc and finding the old henhouse still convertible
into something respectable. started my carpenter
on the work and soon had the satisfaction Of rest
ing my eyes upon converted outbuidings.
This seemed very much If had begun my
operations at the wrong end but such was not the
case The purchase OF the first n great
event. and the arrival of the animal threw the
household into a state of excitement. The utility
mar knew something OF farming, and my carpenter
was an erratic little German who knew "every-
thing about everything" | talked with them BOTH
and drove all over the country, getting points. /
got a practical gardener to look at the estate and
after much preliminary conversation he taught me
a good deal. one portion OF the grounds. south by
north he told me- would make excellent vege-
table and flower garden.
4 vision OF peas and at arose. and
decided upon straight walks lined with rose trees.
and squares Of cabbages. asparagus and beets.
revealed my ideas TO my prosaic adviser. who put
the brakes upon my Imagination by the calm
words Plough and harrow" This brought
back to the consideration Of expense. Plough!
Harrow. How II possible?
well you may have the team Of me ma am and
my man can come for a day and turn up this ere
soil IL you have the weeds and briers cut down
first"
The said briers as tall as aT.
Have 'en rooted out and burned" continued my
adviser Then wel plough up and you turn
good load of manure this land and let II De
I'll spring That's the whole OF IT,
To be brief at the cost OF about s.. ana an ao-
ditional x3 for manure. this was done. ana oone
before the frosts OF late November set IN. but.
urged on by the zeal Of the amateur, and not
content with the sensible slow going counsei OF
experience. decided to have the sowing done at
once OF course II a failure. but, having sat-
isied my zeal by sprinkng spinach seeds IN fur-
rows | left the question OF the garden TO the
spring and turned my attention 10 the COWS. The
size of the household demanding nearly thirty
quarts of milk daily. a second m!lch COW was nee
ogsary Here In some delightfully."- runhy
results of inexperence. l travelled many miles
and interviewed many farmers and still more farm.
ers' wives and made Acquaintance with the oddest
samples human nature and at last became the
happv possessor Of real Jersey. which. from that
dan 10 this has been JOY and whore calves have
been a solid g urce OF satisfaction and revenue.
PIGS AND CHICKENS
The barn thus auspiciously occupied the milk
question being 50 far settled Il will some day give
the result in dollars and cents) my mind naturally
turned 10 the other livestock AT once concen-
trated Il upon pigs and chickens. A long life Is
required to do justice to pigs and chickens! read
several volumes about pigs. / consulted every
farmer for miies around and worried all my
friends One OF the latter. very long-Sunerlng
person finally told me how TO acquire possession