The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-05-29

Of the land:'
Il shall exchange our house anu lot
for a farm. of course
We'll figure. then, that you have ex-
changed even up. None of the live
stock or farming implements go in
with a farm. We must have a COW. a
team Of horses. a wagon. plow. drag
and other things. Then we must have
q hired man. You can figure on pay
ing out $500 to begin with"
There YOU go-trying to discourage
me right on the start shouted Mr..
Bowser as he rose up and began walk
ing around.
But how can you get along without
these things? You are to put 100 acres
into Strawberries. Do you know how
much work it is to prepare the land?"
Mr.. Rowser stopped and looked at
her blankly.
First. what Is the cost of the plants?
It is given in the pamphlet here at IS
a hundred. That's $25 an acre or $500
for your hundred acres. Had you fig
ured on that:"
Mr.. Bowser began to turn pale, aud
the cat left the hearth rug and crawled
under the piano.
Would Be Big Expense.
And now about breaking up the
land. There are 100 acres to plow.
drag and enrich and lay off in beds.
The ground has got to be carefully pre-
pared. Have you figured On the cost
Of this?"
woman, what do you mean by such
talk 2" demanded Mr.. Bowser in stern
tones.
why, this is a business talk, and l
am talking business. You can't expect
your Persian Double Prolifics are 60
ing to yield anything If you stack them
away in the barn. They have got to be
set out in rich and carefully prepared
grounds. Let me see. To prepare those
100 acres will take two men and two
teams at least a month. To set out the
plants will take two men from two to
three weeks. 1t says here that you
must fertilize every plant. How many
bags of that it will take no one can
say. If it comes on dry weather, the
plants must get watered in some way,
or you will lose them. Have you
thought Of that"
Mr.. Bowser SAT down, flushing red
and white, and set his jaw and glared
Mt her.
"W'ell your hundred acres Of straw
berries get along to the period when
the berries begin to ripen. What about
the pickers? You must have at least
fifty women and children ready. They
will have to be paid from 2 to 8 cents
a quart. Strawberries must 60 to mar
ket in boxes. How many boxes. and
what is the cost? You must send them
to the depot and pay freight. They
must 60 to a commission house, and
have you figured on that commission?
If the supply Is light, you may get 10
cents a quart. II the market is glutted.
you may get s. Now, take your pen.
Gil, and we will get it all down to dol
lars and cents"
piled Mr.. Bowser.
Figured Only on One Side.
but 0 want to know just where
you are going to stand. don't you: You
see. you had figured only on the one
side. The agent
"Never mind the agent, madam"
Blu if you propose exchanging III
house and lot
"Never mind the house and lot"
But you said you wanted a business
talk with me. and l am trying
"\ever mine the business talk"
Mr.. Bowser looked at her for a mo.
ment and then rose up and passed
down the hall and put on overcoat and
hat and banged the front door after
him. 1t was dark. and it was cold, and
the wind walled as If the spirits OF
dead and gone murderers were spook
ing around. Three blocks down was &
small park. and a single bench hat
been left for persons to sit on ant
shiver and ponder and think. He sa'
down and bumped up his back ant
!, thought of the Persian Double rolitics
the hundred acres. Mrs. Bowser ant
|. the cat. and he moved not until Mrs
Rowser was in bed and asleep and 1
policeman came that way and punched
him with the end Of his club and said:
"Now, then. old man, you get a move
on you and get home or III give you
lively trot to the station house!'
NJ. QUAD.