The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-22

Spring found him early at work. He
divided up his tract, leaving an acre
aud half for house, lawn, barn, chick
en- runs and Mary's garden patch, His
acre of orchard he decided not TO crop.
so that the entire strength of the soil
could 90 to support his trees. though he
did plant row OF small fruits between
The rows Of trees. He planted two acres
TO oats and one TO barley These tracts,
lying side by side, be seeded to alfalfa,
sowing the seed With the grain with
the hope of gaining Il season, while lay
ing down his meadow. An acre and a
half WAS given to wheat. He learned
that he mad committed mis- first bluuder
in not planting il in the fall, as his
land was in a prime condition to ma
turc the winter variety. This left three
acres winch he planted TO corn, onions
and potatoes IN acre Of each.
He learned after the season was over
that he had laid out heavy season S
work. The onions required great deal
Of labor, but though he protested
against it, Mrs. Russell insisted in help.
ing and not a weed was allowed to peep
above the surface. After thinning the
young bulbs out an experienced onion
grower informed him he had left them
too thick in the rows for the best re-
suits and he started in to do il all over
again, spending many backaching
hours that could have been avoided
He found also that be had been too Law
ish in the use Of water III irrigatlng
some of his crop. and that be had Irri-
gated his potato field at the wrong time
TO obtain the best results, This also
he set down to the account of educa-
tiop. feeling that though it might be
a present loss, the experience he gained
would be a future asset.
Thus he aud Mary kept at it all
through tho growing season. And then
came the harvest.
Here he found his own two. bands
were inadequate and he was compelled
TO hire help, spending nearly 500 out
of his diminishing bank account for
that purpose before hte entire crop was
secured. When it was all over he found
that his land had been in such prime
condition that despite his blunders his
returns were remarkably heavy, and it
took all his spare time until late III the
fall, to cart his crop to the market.
This necessitated the purchase Of an
other horse, and the trading of his light
wagon for Il farm wagon, but as he paid
for them out of the proceeds Of the
crop they became farm asset. His
onion crop had been the most SUCCESS
ful, and when he balanced his books
at the end OF the season he found that
the net proceeds of his first years real
farming had been over $3.50 $500 OF
which he added TO his bank account as
the proceeds of his wife s poultry oper-
ations, together with her truck garden
supplied thom with their living with
ter the outlay was comparatively small
for Mrs, Russell found that she had util
ilcd ont in the country what in tho
city she would have thrown away, and
as for Johu, his last year S suit was
ms good as now.
His Young orchard had exceeded
his expectations, as he had lost only
5 per cent of his trees. The re-
mainder had taken on sturdy
his Horticultural friend the wood had
ripened well, and they were in fine
condition to meet the coming winter.
His friend likewise informed him
that his acre of orchard had in
creased in value fully $500, so when
everything was totaled UP he found
the year s operations as farmer was
equal 10 the increased value of the
tract from the improvements he had
made the preceding year.
Feeling that in fruit growing his
greatest increase In value was to
come, and learning that the area he
had planted to roots and corn was in
fine condition TO plant TO trees, he pur~
chased and planted the entire three
acres in apples and few other fruits,
ending his year S operations with 4
larger bank account than he had be-
gun it,
That winter when he visited tho
office Of the irrigation company TO
make payment on his land he met
with an offer that staggered him.
|1,, l,e ,k
ten-acre tract whose owner had neg.
lected it, and whose crop had proven
u failure, He was therefore disgusted
with farming, and came to the conclu~
sion that he would have none of It.
The land had been broken, and after
Il fashion cropped. Half of it had been
seeded to alfalfa, which, despite the
neglect. had given fairly good
stand. John had often looked at the
piece. longingly, and Mary had re-
marked time and again that it was
one season s abuse John knew had not
really injured the land, but he never
dreamed of possessing it.
After he had mado his payment the
manager Of the company asked him
if he did not want the tract, as 1t was
for sale.
John replied that he certainly did
want it, but saw no means Of securing 6
it.
The manager then informed him
that the owner was willing to accept
ono-half of what he had paid on it,
and then said:
"Russel if you will pay this year s
payment on tine land the company will
make mp the remainder Smith asks
and take you for the amount
John hesitated and the manager
continued
"It is the greatest bargain we
have, and would not be made to any.
ono but you.''
John still was silent.
"What do you think of ii, RUSSELL
| he said, after watching John for 6
minute or two.
"I think il is all right, but
"But you want to consult Mrs. Rus
sci, That $ right Talk it over wltl
her. IN hold it open for you for two
weeks. -
The two men shook hands, and John
left the office.
That night tho manager spoke TO the
directors, who chanced to have meet
| ing Of the offer hn had rnado Inhn