The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-20

of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
A little later on Mr. Hale got tho
idea that Georgia would raise peaches
He travelled all over that state and
picked out his present locality. Since
then he has raised enormous crops
and has shown what could be done Icy
careful cultivation. intelligent market
ng. modern machinery and good busi-
s3.S management. He is always on
IS >okout for frosts and pests OF ono
kl- and another, and his foresight
has several times saved him his crop.
when those of his neighbors were
ruined.
\ Word Of Warning
AS I write this one Of the many
stories of the successes which are now
being made in farming the thought
comes 10 me Of the multitude who are
rushing into such enterprises and in
Vestments without consideration As
Prof. Waite said to me today the ma
Chinery of fruit growing and farming
is more wonderful than that OF the
largest gun factory or electrical indus
try. Its success requires the most
careful selection of soil. a knowledge
of the crops one is attempting To raise.
study of fertilizers and diseases. and
also the being Johnny on the spot
throughout all or a greater part OF
the year. Notwithstanding this men
who would not buy a lot without the
most careful searching of title or go
into any business without having thor
Oughly investigated the mark cts. tho
machinery and the past profits and
losses, will risk the savings of a life
time in a gold mine of which they
personally know nothing or in an
orchard scheme the Information con-
corning which is presented only on
paper.
Take. for instance. the case Of a gov
ernment employe who called the other
day to ask the advice of the fruit men
| as to an investment in a new orange
| region which is being exploited in
various parts Of the South. This orange
| is Of a Japanese variety which will
grow much farther north than the
sweet oranges of Florida or California
| The locality proposed was someWh ere
| in Alabama The scheme is managed
| by a syndicate which is selling its
lands at $500 per acre. with the under
! standing that the trees are to be plant
| ed at once and are to be cared for for
| five years, at which time they viii
come into bearing. The prospectus
| has figures which show that a tract
of five acres So treated will give a man
a profitable income. Said the pomo-
| logist who told me this story:
That man was a proof-reader who
has to do with government printing.
His work is such that the misplacing
| of a comma might cost Uncle Sam mil
| lions and a mistake would lose him
his job This, he told me, had SO worn
upon his nerves, that he felt he must
| arrange for his leaving the service at
some time in the near future. He said
he thought this would be good
place to invest his savings, and that he
would eventually retire to his orchard
He said he intended to put in all he
had and to pay the balance on in
stallments of SIS a month. l asked
him if he had gone down to Alabama
to see the land and investigate the
proposition. He replied that he had
not. but that the prospectus gave
all the figures and showed just what
The DrOflts would be / asked II hs
knew the managers. He said he did
not / thereupon strongly advised hin,
to make no such investment without
further knowledge. He said. however.
that he thought he would risk ii. and
so went away. His mind was tnada
up before he came in, and my advice
was worth nothing.
The Agricultural Department has
many such schemes brought daily be
fore it Some Of them are good and
will pan out all right. but great
mum Der are questionable to say the
least. and those who invest should
make the most careful inquiries into
locations. markets and the indlVid dua IS
who are managing before they risk
that which has cost them years OF pri-
vatiOn to save.
FRANK G.. CARPENTER.