The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-10-17

ious joys that I had never before
dreamed Of.
The first was that of increased am
our propre and self reliance. Until
then | had been a man on a salary
like so many others. Now I became
tax payer. had definite corner
of the world in which to abide, II I
so desired, and l had the basis for
an increase to my income which
would depend mainly on my own ini.
tiative. had chance to get free
from the servile dependence on an
employer which is more or less felt
by every salaried man and is far
from being the noblest element in
his character.
My land cost me $50 an acre. That
was cheap considering its nearness
to town and the fact that good farm
land was bringing from $3.50 to 5000.
My purchase price was low because
the soil was in pockets and crossed
here and there by ridges Of loose
stone. No one had ever seen any
agricultural possibilities in that cor.
ner though the proceeding owner had
cleared four acres and I planted 1t
to alfalfa. Apples will do better
there than anything else, though II
is not ideal soil for an orchard" was
the general opinion Of agricultural
acquaintances whom consulted and
I have Immediately began to resolve
that l would turn my stony acres in
to valuable apple orchard.
The first year I had four acres
plowed and planted to Gano apple
trees and as l hired the work done
soon learned that the eye Of the
master must be ever supervising, or
his hand must be at work, II he wants
a thing we'll done. My tree holes
we're not dug deep enough and the
trees we're not pruned as they should
have been, had been able to be on
hand all the time. From then on
I resolved to devote my spare time
to work on my land. No more tennis
or golf for me. In the care Of my
acres l had plenty of more profitable
and fully enjoyable exercise always
waiting for me. My 300 trees were
in constant need of attention.
Every month l went over them with
the grubblng hoe and then, too, there
was the never ending job of getting
the loose stones picked up. Good
poultry men say it isn't so much spe-
olal breeds that make poultry prof
table as 1t is the amount of love
and care that fowls receive.
The same rule applies to anything
that grows, whether trees or fowls.
| had a rocky piece of land but my
trees all got a good start for
watched over them like a parent and
could even vizualize In my dreams
the special form of each individual
tree. And as I worked among my
trees the thought. that came most Of
ten into my mind was this: "How
foolish l have been to spend SO much
of the leisure of my ydoth and mid
die age in seeking exercise In out
door games. Here is healthy ex-
erclse that is more fun to me than
any game, for I know that 1t Is to
bring me money returns in increased
value of my land and as for exercise
1t beats golf. 1t takes more force 10
swing a grubbing hoe than driver
and the movement may be made just
as firm, effective and graceful as any
motion of the body involved IN any
game" And as I would pick up the
large rocks between the trees anu
carry them to their respectable pies
I would throw back shoulders anu
poising one in each hand think OF
Robins statues. 1t was a preposter'
Gus but pleasant thought.
have had my land now iohs