News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-03-24
THE BOY
FARMER
Or a Member of the
Corn Club
X
By ASA PATRICK
Copyright. 1915. by American Press
Association
By ASA PATRICK
Copyright. 1915. by American Press
Association
a OTE.R ~.

PoWellS moved back TO the little
farm, and there was a look of rea
- happiness on Mrs. PoweIrs face
when she was once more settled in
that quiet nook rhe farm lay back
from the public road and was screen
ed from view by Il grove or trees IN
the pasture, The weather beaten farm.
house was also sheltered and shaded
by cluster of wide spreading oaks.
But Sam and Florence were no less
pleased than their mother to be in the
country again. 70 live in the country
and 20 know the ways Of nature is to
love It always
Before moving. however. they az
had made several trips to the old home
and done much work in the garden.
ORCHARD and field The old orchard.
after receiving special treatment by
Sam. surprised Mrs. Powell so that
she began to look on her son as very
remarkable boy. When they first look
ed at it in February it was an I'M
promising sight. Dead weeds and bri-
ems stood shoulder high. sprouts had
&EONb dp lht tlCCS, anu IL iooN-
ed as If there was but little life left in
the orchard. so many were the broken
and dead houghs.
"Yoa might as well chop down the
OLD trees" said Mrs. Powell. They
are nearly all dead anyway"
Don't you believe itv' exclaimed
Sam. You just wait till get through
with those old trees. They look mighty
shabby now, but they'll come to life If
you give them chance. Pve just
been reading about how to work over
Old orchards. Why, mother. II / was
to cut them down and plant young
trees 1t would he three or four years
before we would get any frnit."
Eyes, ! know that" replied his moth
er. "bnt don't think these old trees
wtA bear any 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 he set to work. moving down
briers and weeds and raking them into
plies and burning them. When this
was done be took saw and y pair of
prus4ng shears and began on the trees
ALI the dead and broken limbs were
cut away. The orchard had been neg
leeted so long that there We're many
dead boughs. and it was n different
looking place waen Sam finished prlIn-
Ing. The next thing be did was to buy
some chemicals and make a solution
after formula given in one OF the
government bulletins. With this sou-
ton and hand sprayer be went over
the orchard and sprayed each tree from
top to bottom. Next he broke and har-
rowed the ground, and the old orchard
had one more chance TO live and thrive,
for 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 mass of pink blooms.
Lock. Florence" exclaimed Mrs.
Powell when shp saw the trees looking
so beautiful sam is sure wonder
! didn't :h!H4i ne 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
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 one stalk, and
he has grown white blackberry
That isn't all. He has done hundreds
OF wonderful things with plants"
well, Mr. Burbank" said Florence,
with happy laugh. that's a pretty |
good Job on the orchard"
Soon after moving to the farm Sam
had his first chance to get what he 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 leave?" 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 fine
registered sow. and she's going to find
u litter of pigs some of these days be-
fore long. Id sell her. but can't get
nothing like what she's worth. and 1
can't find place to leave her"
I'D like TO get some Berkshire pigs"
Sam remarked. what do you ask for
the sow"
We'll. right this minute I'D take
$50 for her The. pigs are sure to be
worth twice that much"
That's cheap enough" said Sam,
shut | haven't the money. How would
II suit you to let me keep her? That lit
tie pasture down there is hog proof.
The creek runs through it, and there's
plenty of shade and water and no stock
that would bother her"
That's good place. hadn't
thought of it. Maybe we can make