The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-07-14
FARMING By PROXY.


Some time ago, the writer visited q
friend, Mr.. H., at his beautiful old
country place. After dinner. while
strolling about, he told me some OF
his experiences at farming.
Engaged in business and unable to
look after things himself, he had had
to depend on managers and foremen.
His love of horses led him first to try
to raise trotters. To this end he en-
gagged high priced manager, who
came we'll recommended. He bought
several valuable horses, number OF
brood mares and built two stables, be.
sides adding largely to the one already
on the place.
The new man installed, he conf
IDENTIFY left everything in his charge.
and bought him whatever he asked
for. In short time, expenses began!
to run up at a tremendous rate. IT
horses were to be trained. track
must be built, and it was, to the tune
of 500, 900. Another Sc, 900 a year
went for a good trainer. In fact,
nothing which could go toward in
suring success was denied. Hay was
bought at fancy prices, as was the
grain; it was afterward found out that
everything was purchased at fancy
prices.
But, after all, the main thing was
to win some races, in order to make
reputation. The third year fine
string of horses were sent out on the
grand circuit result, second place
in two races and third in another.
The manager aud trainer expressed
great satisfaction, and said that the
horses had done wonderfully well for
their first appearance. Two more
years passed the horses won few
seconds and a number of thirds, but
never first. The bills continued to
grow, buildings didn't suit and had
to be altered, new harness and sui
kies were ordered, and more men en-
gagged.
While things were thus going from
bad to worse, Mr.. H. met friend
who was an enthusiastic horseman.
He inquired who Mr.. HIS manager
was and how he liked him. He also
offered to take one of his horses and
to let his man drive in the next race.
The offer was accepted, and much to
Mr.. H. surprise his horse won easi-
ly. Sufficient to say, tne manager
left; an investigation followed which
revealed the fact that the manager
had allowed himself to be bought off
on the track, had exacted commits
sions on everything purchased and
had even levied tribute from the car
penters and builders. The racing
stable was very costly experiment,
and was sold at auction. with the ex-
ception of four horses for his own
use.
In the mean time a small dairy
herd had been started for the family.
This had proved most successful. A,
milk record had been kept, also a
feed account, which showed bal
ance on the right side of the ledger.
Gradually the herd was increased,
and before he realized it, my friend
was in the dairy business for ali it
was worth. This time, however, he
determined to keep his eye on things
himself.
Of course the buildings had to be
altered, new fences built, and all the
latest devices installed. The pro-
duct was to be sold in town as certi
fed milk, but that was in the dim
future. Int the mean time, the milk
was sent to a milkman, who paid &c.
a quart, not much Of profit to be
sure. However, the dairy proved a
fair venture, although the expenses
nearly kept pace with the income.
Still, there was nothing to worry
over, and the cows were pretty to
look at. The end of the dairy was
nothing less than tragedy. In the
absence of Mr.. H. abroad, the herds
man, anxious to keep up the supply
Of milk, purchased fne-looking
grade COW from a dealer. She prov
ed very good mixer, but the fol
lowing winter the state inspectors vis-
tied the place, and the whole herd,
with the exception of three cows,
was condemned for tuberculosis,
which had got in through the new
cow.
The poultry department on my
friends place was, until his. wife
took charge of it, the butt for all his
friends jokes. Nearly every kind of
house had been tried, over ten differ
ent makes of incubators and as many
different breeds of fowls. Each man
who had been in charge had intro
duced new methods of feeding, new
fixtures. The result was a lot of
hens of all sorts, sizes and descrip.
tions. Some, / was told, even had
web feet.
Fortunately ''in all tragedy there
is comedy" My friends place is
always beautiful, but the live. stock
now consists of six horses, five cows
and some thirty or forty hens. The
good wife runs the ranch, and Mr..
H. attends strictly to business.
K. p, in Country Gentleman.
SATISFYING EXPLANATION.