The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-06-10
HARRY FARMERS TALKS.
LXXVI.

OOA' VI 1hC L AOS ACSoANS L dIluSI'
We want to follow a few copies of
The Progressive Farmer and see who
takes the paper and also learn some
of the ways of the readers In. this
way we may see the reasons of the
success and failures of men in differ
ent callings throughout the State.
Kind reader, do not think this is
aimed at you in particular, but think
over some of the facts drawn out, and
after you have read it, ask yourself
that solemn question which was asked
by men in a trying hour long time
ago: "Is it II" 1t is our purpose to
benefit all who may read these Talks
and help every one of you.
VISIT TO A FLORISTS
With these remarks we jump into
the mail bag with the paper early in
the day on Tuesday and find ourselves
in the big post office at Raleigh. We
notice one Progressive Farmer is put
in a box to be delivered by a carrier in
the city; so we follow and find our
selves at a large green house. We walk
in to see what is inside. We look
around at the beautiful flowers and
other plants. This man began business
on a small scale and has worked up.
Nearly every successful man had to
begin at the bottom and work up.
One trouble with a great many men
is they want to begin at the top; as a
general thing, such people work down.
No one can ever succeed in any calling
without first learning the details. The
little things are often the most im-
portant.
PERSISTENT EFFORT.
This florist wanted a lemon tree;
so he plants the seed or gets a tiny
plant and puts it in a large barrel so
that he can put it in the house during
the cold weather, for the lemon, being
tropical plant, cannot stand much
cold. 1t has taken several years to get
it to bearing. 1t must have taken as
much trouble to get up to the bearing
age as it would to raise a pet lamb.
But now we see him rewarded by sew
eral clusters or punches of lemons.
What a pleasure it is for him to look
at the fruit which will soon be ready
to eat.
As we stand and gaze upon the many
beautiful flowers, the result of years
of toll and care, it makes us long to
have something of this kind for our
own. 1t is said, "What the eye does
not see, the heart will not grieve af-
ter" Here is a house filled almost full
of little flower pots, and each pot as a
little rose growing in it.
CARE AND ATTENTION
The house being covered with glass
which lets in the light and heat of the
sun, does not let in any rain, so every
day or two the plants must have some
water. With a long rubber hose he
gives them a nice little shower. 1t re-
minds us of the time when we had to
nurse a baby brother. How often he
had to have water and something to
eat! Every time we got busy with our
work making carts and wagons with
pine bark wheels, he would cry for
something, and we had to wait on him,
only to be rewarded by his breaking
one of our carts. But he is grown
now. and gone to a distant State to
dwell. So these flowers will be gath
cred in the winter and shipped to New
York and other large cities to cheer
and delight people who are shut in by
the deep SHOWS and cold of winter.
THE GREATER THE RISK THE GREATER
THE PROFIT.
Does this florist run any risk! Sup
pose there should come a heavy hail
storm where would all those glass
houses be? The cost runs Up into the
thousands of dollars. Brother farmer
we are some times afraid to put out
a small amount of labor and money In
some enterprise for fear we would lose
lit DId you ever think that the greater
the risks the greater the return for
YOUR work? Some times we are so
afraid that we actually will not do
what common sense or our better judg-
ment encourage us to do. This man
must not neglect to close the houses
in cold weather, or give the flowers
their regular bath, for the failure here
would ruin his business.
After looking at the flowers and that
I - I-oo - y,oolnS 11S hungry so we