West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-05-28
DOWSER'S FARM.
ltQuiekiy Vanished when Mrs. Bowser
Began 20 Make Figures


had finished his dinner the other evening.
aud perhaps you would like TO 60 along s''
Are yov going TO buy seedp" asked Mrs.
Bowser.
YES 4"
"But what forp You aren't going to dig
ap the back yard again this spring, are
your"
mot at all It's quite different matter
I've been thinking things over for a week
past am man who has got to have
plenty of exercise. might as well have
the exercise aud a cash profit at the same
time."
DO you mean that you are going to carry
out ashes OF shovel coal7"
mo, ma am. don't; mean that am
going to do a little farming this year. 1
shall get my exercise In planting aud hoeing
and the profit will come In as the various
crops ripen. The doctors tell me that Il is
the best thing In the world for my rheuma.
tism. and have figured that can make a
clear $500 profit. Yes. | shall become farmer
Bowser next week"
And where is your farmi'
Tomorrow am going to see the owner of
some vacant lots down the street aud hire
four OF them for year, They are only a
quarter of a mile away. shall get up
every morning aud work from & to ?. aud
can work every evening from 10 8. Ill bet
gam 30 pounds this summer. aud our table
will be constantly supplied with lettuce.
onions beets, potatoes, cucumbers, toma.
toes and so forth I shall also arrange to
supply two groceries. Get on your things
II you want to 20 with me-"
Don't you want to figure q iittlei"
queried Mrs Bowser1 as she got pencil
and paper and sat down.
whats the use1 ! have figured Il out
three or four times over. and know all
about il to a cent"
I'm the FIRST place you hire four vacant
lots. How much will you have to paya"
II expect TO get EN- for ts apiece twill
be useless for you to Try to discourage me.
for my mind is made up"
II shan, try to. You pay Gao for ground
rent to- start with. Then the lots must bo
fenced In. How much will the fencing
cost7"
hadn't figured on that" replied MIR
Bowscr. as his face fell. "but Is shouldn't
be over s1s "
Yes. IL might be done Tor that The
ground must be plowed and dragged. YOU
know. How much for that7"
"How--much2 ! didn't figured on that
either. but tro ought to be enough. don't
see why you want to meddle with this
matter"
I'm not meddling I'm just making a
few figures. You are going to raise corn
potatoes and all kinds OF garden truck,
believer"
~ am. I'll have the neatest little farm
you ever set eyes on"
Well. youll have to buy spade. rake.
hoe and shovel for tools Then you'll
have 10 buy seed corn seed potatoes. seed
onions and all other seeds. What sum
have you allowed for them1"
Mr.. BowscT hadn't allowed any sum. In
his agricultural enthusiasm he had en-.
tirely overlooked the cost OF seeds.
Il think IL you get tools aud seeds for sfs
you will be doing well " said Mrs. Bowsor,
AS she put down the figures.
why don't YOU make II sIooS" he
growled. u see your little game. lbut don't
think IL will work with me- | cant be dis.
couraged"
"Of course not, but you might as we'll
know what you are doing, Let's seer
your little farm will cost you go by the
time you are ready 10 begin planting"
II deny H..
BUT here are your own figures. my dear.
You are going to plant corn How many
kernels do you drop into hill1
Pint. OF course"
And how many seed potaioes1'
"A dozen or so. What are you trying to
get at nowr'
II just wanted to learn your system OF
farming
MY system Is ali right and you needn't
worry over IL. might have known you'd
oppose me in this. I should have gone
right on and said nothing to you about IT.
"Will you have pumpkins and squashos9'
asked Mrs Bowser. as she looked down 10
see a grin on the cats face
"Of course"
How many seeds In a hill7"
About So I suppose I've got to make
allowance for those that won't sprout.
Are you satisfied now7"
"Yes. I'm satisfied that people will come
10 miles TO view your little farm as
curiosity. Don't you know that farmer
never drops over six kernels Of corn 10 a
bill2"
by gum. womsni shouted Mr Bowses.
but do you pretend that you can teach me
how 10 fafml"
Perhaps not but four or FIVE seed DO.
tatoes are plenty for a hill. and as for
pumpkins and squashes you sbouldn't out
In over six or seven seeds. Will you make
your own beds for radishes, onions and so
forth or hire IL doneY
None Of your business. You can LET 20
Of this thing right here and now. and don't
let me hear another word IRON yon shall
have a little farm. shal raise orops
shall get the exercise and Til be banged II
you get q single onion Of the whole dozen
bushels ! am going down to buy seeds.
and am going slOnc
lie left The house Tor the seed store. but
or bis way be stopped IN AZ his family gro
Gers and asked how many kernels OF corn
farmer planted in a hill.
Five OF six. was the reply.
And how many seed potatoes Z"
Not more than that"
The druggist told him the same. and so
did the butcher but be was not satisfied
a farmer who was making ready 10 return
home alter selling load si produce. was
appealed 70.
DO you think Of farming Z" he inquired.
after looking Mr Bowser over.
And you dont know any better than 10
plant pint of seed corn In = hill -
II contend that pint Is the proper pro.
portion
Wall u ! was goin' 20 raise jackass
/ fodder plant pint 20 a hni l'll bet
your wife has 4 dnfned hard time Twin
| with you. and that she knows more in
| minute than you do In week
| a policeman happened along Just in time
| 20 get between them and prevent a row.
and Mr.. BOwsef slowly walked back home
| y forgot 10 ask you about clothes pins.
said Mrs. Bowser as be entered. How
many do you Dlauf 10 a hill ="