Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-16

fOWellS IlONcu DdSh W sHS
farm, and there was a look of rea
happiness on Mrs. Powelrs FACE
when she was once more settled II
that quiet nook. The farm lay aci
from the public road and was screen
| ed from view by a grove of trees II
the pasture. The weather beater
farmhouse was also sheltered ant
shaded by a cluster Of wide spreading
oaks.
But Sam and Florence were no les!
| pleased than their mother to be in thu
country again. To live in the country
and to know the ways Of nature is tt
love it always.
Before moving, however, they al
had made several trips to the ole
home and did much work in the
garden, orchard and field. The ole
orchard, after receiving special treat
ment by Sam, surprised Mrs. Powell
so that she began to look on her Sol
as a very remarkable boy. When the!
first looked at it in February 1t was
an unpromising sight. Dead weed!
and briers stood shoulder high
sprouts had grown up around tn
trees, and it looked as If there wa:
but little life left in the orchard, Sc
many were the broken and deao
boughs.
You might as we'll chop down the
old trees" said Mrs. Powell. "They
are nearly all dead anyway"
Don't you believe it," exclaimed
Sam. you just wait till l get through
with those old trees. They look mighty
shabby now, but they'll come to life II
you give them a chance. I've JUS,
been reading about how to work ovel
old orchards. Why. mother, if l was
to cut them down and plant young
trees 1t would be three or four years
before we would get any fruit"
"Yes, I know that" replied his
mother, but 1 don't think these ole
trees will ever bear any more"
Maybe not" said Sam. but we car
try them. / can plant young trees In
the place of the ones that are entirely
dead"
So he set to work. moving dowr
briers and weeds and raking them in.
to piles and burning them. Wher
this was done he took a saw and g
pair Of pruning shares and began OF
the trees. All the dead and broker
limbs were cut away. The orchard
had been neglected so long that there
we're many dead boughs, and it was
a different looking place when Sam
finished pruning. The next thing ne
did was to buy some chemicals and
make a solution after a formula giver
in one Of the government bulletins
With this solution and a hand sprayel
he went over the orchard and sprayed
each tree from top to bottom. Mex
he broke and narrowed the ground
and the old orchard had one NOR
chance to live and thrive, for it was
we'll pruned, the ground in fine con
dition, and the spraying had killed al
the insects that were on the trees.
Sam, like his mother, felt rather
doubtful about the orchard, but wher
they moved there in April they found
the old trees a mass Of pink blooms.
Look Florence!" exclaimed Mrs
Powell when she saw the trees looking
.o Loo,tif,,l &c M ic SlIra q wonder
/ didn't think he could do it."
"Oh. I'm a regular Burbank" sait
Sam, smiling.
Who's Burbank" asked Florence
Burbank" Sam replied, "is called
the plant wizard. He can do anything
with plants. He took the cactus ant
made it grow without thorns. He tool
two wild berries and made a large
berry that is good to eat. He tool
the little wild daisy and originated
the large Shasta daisy. He has mad
potatoes and tomatoes grow on on
stalk, and he has grown a white
blackberry. That isn't all. He ha'
done hundreds of wonderful things
with plants"
well, Mr.. Burbank" said Florence
with a happy laugh, that's a prett!
good job on the orchard"
Soon after moving to the farm San
had his first chance to get what he 81
much wanted-some registered Berk'
shires. A neighbor who was moving
out Of the county came by where HI
was working.
when are you going to leave?'
Sam asked.
We'll, I'm about ready now" re
piled the neighbor. There's one thint
| amt arranged yet, though, and it:
kinder bothering me. I've got a fine
registered sow, and she's going to fine
a litter Of pigs some of these days be-
fore long. I'd sell her, but / can't ge
nothing like what she's worth, and
can't find a place to leave her"
I'D like to get some Berkshire pigs,
Sam remarked. What do you ash
for the sow"
We'll, right this minute I'd take
$40 for her. The pigs are sure to bt
worth twice that much"
That's cheap enough" said Sam
but | haven't the money. How would
it suit you to let me keep her? Tha'
little pasture down there is hos
proof. The creek runs through 1t
and there's plenty of shade and water
and no stock that would bother her.
That's a good place. / hadn'
thought of it. Maybe we can make 6
deal. I'll tell you what I'll do, Sam
You keep the SOW and look after her
and when the pigs are old enough
you ship four of them to me and you
may have the SOW and the rest Of the
pigs"
"Tll do it," said Sam, and the bar
gain was closed.
About a month later the old SOW
was going about the pasture with
ten pretty black and white faced pigs
following. Under Sans care the!
grew like weeds in wet weather
When they were old enough to wean
which was twelve weeks. as the yount
farmer learned from his reading, ne