Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-03-19
CHAPTER ~.

7 L was the LIST of April when the
Poweils moved back to the little
farm. and there was a look of real
\ happiness on Mrs. Powelps face
when she was once more settled in
that quiet nook. The farm lay back
from the public road and was screen
ed from view by a grove OF trees IN
the pasture. The weather beaten farm
house was also sheltered and shaded
by a cluster OF wide spreading mks.
But Sam and Florence were 90 less
pleased than their mother 10 he in the
country again. To live IN the country
and to know the ways OF nnflire is To
love 1t always.
Before moving. however they atl
had made several trips to he old noine
and done much work in the garden
orchard and 6eld. The old orchard
after receiving special treatment by
Sam. surprised Mrs. Powell so that
she began to look on her son H. a very
remarkable boy. When they first look.
ed at 1t In February 1t was an IN
promising sight Dead weeds and bri
ers stood shoulder high. sprouts had
grown up around the trees. and 1t look
ed as If there was but little life left In
the orchard. so many we're the broken
and dead boughs.
"You might as well chop down the
old trees" said Mrs. Powell. 'They
are nearly all dead anyway
Don't you believe itT exclaimed
Sam. You just walt till | 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 just
been reading about how TO work W
old orchards. Why. mother. II | was
TO cut them down and plant yonng
trees II would he three or four years
before we would get any fruit"
Eyes. | know that replied his moth
er. but | don't think these old trees
will bear n more.
Maybe not. said Sam. but we can
try them can plant young trees IN
the place of the ones that are entirely
dead
So be SET to work. moving down
> aliu Aftur anu ithitiS lutIu IlIu
piles and burning them When this
was done he took Il saw and y pair of
pruning shears and began on the trees
All the dead and broken limbs were
cut away. The orchard nad been neg
iected so long that there were many
dead boughs. and it was a different
looking place when Sam finished prun-
ing. The next thing he did was to buy
sorbe chemicals and make a solution
after a formula given in one of the
government bulletins. With this soiu.
ton and a hand sprayer be went owe
the orchard and sprayed each tree from
top to bottom. Next he broke and har-
rowed the ground. and the old orchard
had n more chance to live and thrive.
for it was well pruned. the ground In
tine condition. and the spraying had
killed all the insects that were on the
trees.
Sam. like his mother. felt rather
doubtful about the orchard. but when
they moved there in April they found
the old trees a mass of pink blooms.
Look. Florencei' exclaimed Mrs.
Powell when she saw the trees looking
SO beautiful. sam is sure a wonder.
| didn't think be could do it."
'Oh. I'm a regular Burbank said
Sam. smiling.
Who's Burbank? asked Florence.
Burbank" sam replied. lis called
the plant wizard. de can do anything
with plants. He tool the cactus and
made it grow without thorns. He took
two wild berries and made a large Der
ry that is good to eat He took the lit.
tie wild daisy and originated the large
Shasta daisy. he has made potatoes
and tomatoes grow On m stalk. and
be has grown a white blackberry
That isn't all. he has done hundreds
Of wonderful things with plants"
We'll. Mr.. Burbank" said Florence.
with a happy laugh. that's a pretty
good Job on the orchard"