St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-06-02
Or d MQnbor of the Corn Club

PATRICK

1erican Press Association.
sam. like bis 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. FIorencep' 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 regular Burbank" said
Sam. smiling.
who's Burbank?'' asked Florence
Burbank" Sam replied lis called
the plant wizard. He can do anything
with plants. He took the cactus and
made it grow without thorns He took
two wild berries and made large Der
~ 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 one stalk. and
be has grown q white blackberry
That isn't all. He has done hundreds
Of wonderful things with plants"
We'll. Mr burbank" said Florence.
with happy laugh. THAT'S pretty
good job on the orchard "
Soon after moving TO the farm Sam
had his first chance to get what ne so
much wanted-sOme registered BerK-
Shires neighbor who was moving
out OF the county came by where ne
was working.
when are yon going to leaveT' Sam
asked
well. 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
registered SOW. and she's going TO find
u litter of pigs some of these days be
fore long. I'd sell ner. but / can't get
nothing like what she's worth. and 1
can't lind place 70 leave ner.
I'D like 10 get some berkshire pigs
Sam remarked What do you ask for
the sow"
We'll. right this minute Id take
$40 for her rhe pigs are sure to be
worth twice that much"
That's cheap enough" said Sam
but | haven't the money How would
il suit you to let me keep herr That tit
tie pasture down there ia hog proof
The est'eek 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 it. Maybe we can make a
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"
IN do it," said Sam. and the bargain
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 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. he shipped the four
pigs to their owner. OF the six pigs
left be picked out three of the finest.
two gifts and a male. TO keep. The
other three be advertised for sale in the
county paper. ana. the pigs being of
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 be showed that
he was wise.
But, prOnd as Sam Powell was of his |
thorougbbreds. there was something
else to which he was giving a lot of
thought and work That something
was the acre of corn that was to com
pete for prizes offered to the Boys
Corn club.
Miles Fagan had promised his son.
Bob. that he might join the corn club |
and enter an acre in the contest if be
would clear the land of stumps Bob |
did join. but the corn was not planted |
this year. For after working with /
shutdown for many days. clearing the |
acre of the big. deep rooted stumps. I
Mr.. Pagan told him nnc0ncernedly |
that he'd just have TO have that patch
Of ground. Ii 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. TO
plant the corn when be had finished it.
and he had to drop ont 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 his was teaching him
something
Sam planted his contest acre with
the seed furnished by the agent about
the middle of March. The rows were
four feet apart and the stalks in the
rows eighteen inches. He cultivated
t the first time when the corn was
lust beginning to come up by going
over ii with harrow. This did not
lnrr the plants. EXCEPT one here and