Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-27
A TALK TO THE FARMERS
BY HON. ABE JONES, OF NEBRASKA
Some Good Pointers on Gardening.
Paper Read Last Night Before
Farmers Institute at
Burr Oak.

last evening at Burr Oak:
Being requested to say something
before this Institute, even if it is not
so cunning, am reminded of a short
poem which 1 heard when boy:
"You would scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on a stage.
But If should chance to fall below
Demosthenes or Cicero
Don't view me with critics eve
But pass my imperiections by"
The secretary has kindly allowed me
to select my own topic, which means
that can digress. 1 will start on small
fruit and gardening but where l will
end is conundrum that | can't solve
at present. Small fruit and gardening
require good soil, good cultivation and
a large quantity of grease 1 mean ell
bow grease.) Most all the plants and
seeds advertised in the catalogues are
good, but the main thing to keep con-
stantly in mind is to plant and sow
what is best adapted to this lati-
tude, for nature has laws which wis
dom, eloquence and self interest of
man cannot materially change. l have
had some experience in these things,
but today may be called 'back num-
ber," for 1 have been out of the busi-
ness for several years and can give you
only some of my ancient experience.
l started in with great variety of
grapes, but they dwindled away, one
after another, until there is nothing
left but the Concord, Moore's Early and
Worden, and in my opinion they are
THE grape for this part of the country.
They are all good and hardy and as
somebody has said all make good wine,
and when it is three or four years old
will have the desired effect. But 1
never could make any that would keep
that long. / have had g great variety
of plums, both tame and wild. The
tame ones left my bed and board long
ago without just cause or provocation
on my part. The wild ones stick to
me "closer than a brother" Some of
them are as good as any, and some of
them, if you wanted to whistle for a
dog, eat a plum, and your mouth will
already be puckered. My apples have
dwindled down to summer and fall
apples, with the Duchess at the head
in size but not in flavor. 1 may be
rrejudiced on account of the name, as
take no stock in foreign titles Of any
kind, whether Duchess, Princess or
a Countess. But many of our Ameri-
can girls seem to think the only thing
worth living for is to be Count
ess, and after a short experience like
Jay Gould's daughter, they still find
themselves Countess, but also Count
less. L have always been of the opin-
ion that the cheapest way to get good
apples was to raise something adapted
to the climate, sell it, and buy the ap-
Piles. And yet it is well to have small
orchard on every homestead; if not for
profit, for pleasure, as it is strong re-
minder of the old home away down
east, among the hills and rocks where
many of us spent the most happy days
of our lives.
Gardening and small fruit pays very
well if it is not overdone. A few years
ago many farmers in this vicinity, no
ticing that gardeners drove a good
team and rode in fine carriage bought
on time), wore silk hat second hand
ed), fine kid gloves Cmsde of sheep
skim and an elegant dress suit of the
finest broadcloth (more than half cot
tom, thought there was millions in
it," that hogs, cattle and diarying were
not in it at all, and the result was that
nobody made much. About the time
they waded in l waded out, and have
kept out ever since. lam now running
a little Wall Street joint on my own
hook. buy those contemplate silver
dollars at forty-five cents apiece, and
turn them in to the greenhorns where
l do my trading at one hundred cents
apiece, and lots of fellows too numer.
Gus to mention) that / owe are glad tC
get them at sl05. 1t pays better than
running a saloon Especially in Kansas
as there is no danger from Mrs. Ma.
toms hatchet.
! Nearly all kinds of business Is over
done except farming; that holds its
own yet, but how long it will don't
know. When "swords are turned into
plow shares, spears into pruning hooks
then from wives, fathers and mothers
brothers and sisters whose dear ores
precious life blood is slowly ebbine
away on the battle field, will 60 VI
shouts of JOY that will ascend to high
Heaven. Songs Of gladness will vibrats
to the uttermost parts of the earth
peace on earth and good will to mem
will prevail. May that glorious day
come and come speedily.
l ABE JONES.