Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-04-15

hhicu ~ ZIG tnSSNS tnot Woae VI ~
trees.
Sam. like bis mother. felt rathe
doubtful about the orchard. bnt wheI
they moved there in April they fount
the old trees a mass Of pink blooms.
Look. Fl0rencei" exclaimed Mrs
Powell when she saw the trees lookinl
90 beautiful. "Sam is sure a wonder
didn't think he could do IT,"
"Oh. I'm a regular Burbank" SAID
Sam. smiling.
who's BurbankT' asked Florence.
Burbank" Sam replied. ''is called
the plant wizard. de can do anything
with plants. He took the cactus and
made It grow without thorns. he tool
two wild berries and made large Der
~ that Is good to eat. he took the 1T
tie wild daisy and originated the large
Shasta daisy. BE has made potatoes
and tomatoes grow on one stalk, and
he has grown a white blackberry.
That isn't all. He has done hundreds
Of wonderful things with plants"
"well. Mr.. Burbank" said Florence.
with a happy laugh. THAT'S pretty
good Job on the orchard"
Soon after moving to the farm Sam
had bis tirst chance to get what be so
much wanted-some registered Berk-
shires. A neighbor who was moving
out Of the county came BY where he
was working.
"when are you going to Ieaver Sam
asked
swell. I'm about ready now" replied
the neighbOr There's one thing |
amt arranged yet. though, and It's
kinder bOthering me. I've got a fine
registerc4 SOW. and she's going to hnd
a litter Of pigs some Of these days be-
fore long. I'd sell her. but can't get
nothing like what she's worth. and
can't lind place 10 leave her."
'I'd like to get some BERKSHIRE pigs"
Sam remarked "What do you ask for
the sow
"WelI. right this minute I'd take
500 for her The pigs are sure to BE-
worth twice that much"
THAT'S cheap enough" said Sam
"but haven't the money. How would
It suit you to let me keep hery That lit
tie pasture down there Il hog proof
The creek runs through It and there's
plenty Of shade and water and no stock
that would bother her."
That's a good place. hadn't
thought Of 1t. Maybe we can make a
deal. I'll tell you what III 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"
''I'll do it." said Sam, and the bargain
was closed.
About month later the old sow was
going about the pasture with ten pretty
black and white faced pigs following
Under Sans care they grew like weeds
in wet weather. When they were old
enough to wean, which was twelve
weeks. as the young farmer learned
from his reading. be shipped the four
pigs to their owner. OF the six pigs
left he picked out three Of the finest.
two gifts and a male. 10 keep. The
other three be advertised for sale In the
county paper. and, the pigs being Ut
good stock. be had no trouble In selling
them for $40 each. One buyer, coming
after they had been sold. tried to get
Sam to put price ON the three he had
saved. But the boy refused to sell. In
deed. be was so proud Of his pigs that
an offer of many times their worth
would not have induced him to part
with them. And In this he showed that
be was wise.
But. proud as sam Powell was Of his
thorougbbreds. there was something
else to which he was giving lot OF
thought and work. That something
was the acre of corn that was to com.
pete Tor prizes offered to the Boys
Corn club.
Miles Pagan had promised bis son.
Bob. that be might Join the corn club
and enter an acre In the contest II be
would clear the land OF stumps. Bob
did join. but the corn was not planted
this year. For after working with
grubbing hoe and III from sunup TIL
shutdown for many days, clearing the
acre Of the big. deep rooted stumpe,
Mr.. Pagan told him nnc0nceTnedly
that he'd just have to have that patch
OF ground. IL Bob still wanted to plant
some corn he'd have to clear another
acre.
1t was a cruel. mean trick to play on
a boy and enough to discourage any.
body. but Bob set to work ON another
acre. 1t was too late. however, 10
plant the corn when he had finished Il.
and he had TO drop out Of the contest
for this year.
But Miles Pagan was beginning TO
learn that be didn't know very much
about growing corn. The patch across
the fence from bis was teaching him
something.
Sam planted his contest acre with
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