The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-11-11
SMALL FARMER AND WIFE
SUPPORTED BY ONE ACRE

Lesle's Weekly OF Oct. FL, contains
the following: In an article in the
California number OF Leslie's weekly
published last November, | made men
ton OF Mr.. Samuel Cleek, of Orland,
Cal, who had lived on a single acre
OF land for twenty-seven years, and
| himself and wife and put money in
the bank almost every year. MIR. Cleek
| died short time ago OF old age, and
his wonderful acre farm is run by his
wife, who survives him. visited this
farm the other day, and it is a most
remarkable example OF what can be
accomplished through irrigation.
In 1877 Mr.. Cleek purchased an acre
OF land in the corner of dusty, glaring
field OF stubble. 1t was remote from
any dwellings, and was about as bar
rem and uninvting place upon which
to start a home as can be imagined.
There was no running water near, and
from May until November rain never
falls there, although in winter time the
rains are generous. Mr.. Cleek had but
a few dollars. and the home which he
built was, Mrs. Cleek says, only
very small ROOM He dug a deep well
and being handy with carpenters tools,
erected a windmill which operated /.
home made wooden pump. He planted
vegetable seeds, and everything which
came upon the farm was the result of
his handiwork. Robinson Crusoe never
did more on his desert isle than did
Samuel Cleek on his dusty acre of
stubble At the time OF Mr.. Cleek's death
he left almost four thousand dollars in
the bank, besides three valuable acres
in the village OF Orland, and the mar
Vicious little farm itself, which has made |
a better home and larger income for its
owner than some OF his neighbors en-
joyed on estates far larger. In fact,
years ago some farmers with thousands
OF acres gave up when the Cheeks were
making money.
Mrs Cleek stated that there were
many years when they could have made
four hundred dollars clear of all eX-
penses on the farm, but that Mr.. Cleek
had had several years of illness, and
then, too, he had preferred to re-invest
the profits of his remarkable acre in
further improvements. There is no
need OF telling we have done more'n
We have" said Mrs. Cleek. "for every
thing we have came from the acre-farm,
and that's doing well enough"
Every foot OF the acre farm is util-
led, Here is what the place contains
Cottages and porches, 90 y 90 feet; barn
and corral space, including chicken
,oops, etc, - MS feet; two windmill {
lowers, 10 10 feet each; garden, 4oN04
feet; blackberries, IoNoo feet; straw
berries, os MOO feet; citrus nursery.
~ ~ feet, IN which there are always
Jour hundred budded orapge-trees;
low of dewberries along the ienc,.
IooN2 feet I aprcot-trees; ? oak
rccs; : Deaeh-trees; o hg-irees; 10
7 eucalyplus-irees; 90 as
orted roses; 20 assorted geranums; -
seven years old a lime
rec from which were sold last year ITO
lofcn lines bearing breadfruit-lrees,
bearing orangerlreesi pomegranale-
fers beds Of Ninlrls about OK feet
'ach ! patch Of bamboo, : bed II cala
llles ! prune-lrees, cypfess-lrees,
70 stands oi bees I huge grape sincsi
isd II sage : seed bed, besides honey
.ufklss and many fafs shrubs Besides
hf hfeajirll lffss ihf llilr flnch has
] curious ifrr tfnm ihr South Seas Z
,nnNn AZ ihf pAfadItf zee
Tho liliir farm louks artists "hr I
flrrA hhrN hos a. maks even ihlnE =
a. saia hv eirrh aRd n samr pras 1
pa pul h#lf ~ much nFan ias spfrs u
'gYli ieah n,enpaif8F Ths Ipas ~ I