Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-07-23
MR.. RoWsER's FARM.

ser after he had finished his dinner
the other evening land perhaps you
would like to 60 along?"
"Are you going to buy seed'' asked
Mrs. Bowser.
"Yes."
But what for? You aren't going
to dig up the back yard again this
spring are you?"
Not at all. It'sa a 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 and a cash
profit at the same time.
"Do you mean that you are going
to carry out ashes or shovel coal?"
"No, ma am, don't; l mean that |
am going to do a little farming this
year. l shall get my exercise IN
planting and hoeing, and the profit
will come in as the various crops ri
pen. The doctors tell me that it iR
the best thing in the world for my
rheumatism, and have figured that
l can make clear $500 profit. Yes,
l shall become farmer Bowser next
week. "
"And where is your farm?'
Tomorrow l am going to see the
owner of some vacant lots down the
street and hire four OF them for year.
They are only quarter OF a mile away.
l shall get up every morning and work
from 5 to 7, and | can work every
evening from 6 to 8. I'll bet | gain
80 pounds this summer, and our Ia
bic will be constantly supplied with
lettuce, onions. potatoes, cucumbers,
tomatoes and 70 forth. | shall also
arrange to supply two groceries. Get
on your things if you want to go with
me.
Don't you want to figure little?'
queried Mrs. Bowser, as she got pencil
and paper and sat down.
"What's the use? l have figured it
out three or four times over, and know
all about it to a cent"
"In the first place you hire four va
can't lots. How much will you have
to pay?"
Il expect to get EN- for S. each.
1t will be useless for you to try to di,-
courage me, for my mind is made
up"
II shsnt try to. You pay 500 for
ground rent to start with. Then the
lots must be fenced in. How much
will the fencing cost2"
II hadn't figured on that, replied
Mr.. Bowser, as his face fell, "but it
shouldn't be over $25."
Eyes, it might be done for that. The
ground must be plowed and dragged,
you know. How much for that?"
"How-much? l didn't figure on
that either, but $40 oughtto be enough.
I don't see why you want to meddls
with this matter. "
I'm not meddling. I'm just max
ing few figures. You are to raise
corn, potatoes, and all kinds of garden
truck, believe ?"
u am. I'll have the neatest little
farm you ever set eyes on.
well, you'll have to buy spade,
rake, a hoe and shovel for tools.
Then you'll have to buy seed corn,
seed potatoes, seed onions and all
other seeds. What sum have you al
lowed Tor them ?"
Mr.. Bowser hadn't allowed any
sum. In his agricultural enthusiasm
be had entirely overlooked the cost Of
seeds.
Il think if you get tools and seeds
for $l5 you will be doing well, said
Mrs. Bowssr, and she put down the
figures.
why don't you make it $l0O?"
he growled. Il see your little game
but don't think it will work with me
I cant be discouraged"
"Of course not, but you might as
well know what you are doing. Let's
see. Your little farm will cost you
$40 by the time you are ready to be-
gin planting"
81 deny it."
But here sre your own figures, my
dear. You are going to plant corn.
How many kernels do you drop into
a hill?"
Pint, of course.
"And how many seed pOtatoes?"
"a dozen or go. What are you