The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-07

:cUted. The green corn has already
been harvested, the useless stalks
may be removed, and with nature
cooperating with me I have demon
strated the benefits of a rotation of
crops"
Hold on there again, Prof Rota-
tion of crops does not mean planting
things in rows, but it has reference
to planting the same area with diff
ferent seeds each year"
Il beg your pardon" said I. Am
not doing that identical thing? Last
year this row was planted in melons.
This year, it is planted in corn and
potatoes, and if that is not d rota-
ton of crops do not know the mean
ing of the term. Now | don't wish
you think that l got this idea from
the rotary club. for | am as yet not
a member of this civic club. but I
imagine that as soon as they discover
how ingenious / am in adapting my
self to the conflicting elements Of
this modern methods of agriculture.
! they will elect me an honorary mem
ber."
Well" said S, I see YOU are solid
on the row, but still do not under
stand how you have utilized the
other methods, the practical, the theo-
retical and the installment methods"
That is easily demonstrated. by
! practiCing Mr.. HIS theory on solids
] have shown how easy it is to kill
/ two methods with one-and-one-an
potato. AS to the installment apply
! ing to potatoes, l plant just as l am
/ fortunate to obtain them. a few hills
! today, a few hills tomorrow, until I
| have finished the rows. Also it comes
in as a grateful factor in relieving
| tired nature | work a while and
rest a while, mostly resting. You see
I am not altogether a novice in farm
ing
Back in the early eighties of last
century, I was elected chaplain of the
| Farmers Alliance, and pardon me for
giving you a brief history of my ex-
perience. 1t was just after such a
lengthy drouth as we have had this
| spring, by daily watering and keep
ing my potato beds shielded, | man
aged to protect the sprouts until a
copious rain rendered the soil suitable
for planting. A reliable colored man,
Jeff Henderson by name, frequently
did chores for me in a satisfactory
manner went to his house and ex
acted promise from him to be at my
house early next morning, Saturday,
and since it would be a holiday, I
woBld be at home and could assist in
setting out potatoes. "Now, Jeff, "
said I, "don't disappoint me-"
Il will be there if the Lord per
mits me; yes, you may expect ME
if I am alive"
The sun rose next day and bid fair
to be a fine day for work. Breakfast
was on the table, a period that Jeff
rarely forgot. The sun had reached
almost the meridian and still no Jeff.
Deeply exercised by his nonappear-
ance, l resolved to visit his home and
learn the cause. l found no one home
but his wife. Assuming a doleful
and sympathetic countenance, l ask
ed in low tones:
Missouri, when and where are they
going to bury Jeff"
Bury Jeff! Who tole you Jeff's
dead"
Jeff" said I, was a faithful
friend and often proved a great help
to me in times of need. wish to
honor his memory by attending his
funeral When and where are they
going to bury Jeff ?"
why bless your soul man! Jeff
amt dead Mr.. D. come after him
this morning befor day-break for
Jeff to drive his wagon to town and
won't be back till late this evening.
l tole him about his promise to you,
but he said circumstances altered
cases. l could do nothing with him. y
Badly put out by his faithlessness.
I resolved to do my own work. The
plow was carried to the field and
stuck in the ground at the initial row;
the plow gear thrown on the back of
my gentle old horse, Zeb; the back
band adjusted so as not to run too
deep or too shallow; the ends of the
plow line tied to the bride and the
loop at the other end thrown over
my head, as l had seen Jeff do; I
sighted an object at the other end OF
the field for direction. Taking a fur
tive glance around to see if anyone
was watching me in my first lesson
in plowing, clucked familiarly to Sd
Zeb, and in response to my command
. the horse started forward Nothing
accompanied old Zeb in his onward
progress but the plow lines fastened
!. securely to the bride at once end and
myself securely fastened by the loop
at the other. I felt myself dragged
suddenly through the plow handles;
my shins barked by contact with the
singletree, until an emphatic. whoa =
brought Zeb to a standstill. With
l difficulty eXtricated my almost dis
; located neck from loop, and proceeded
, to investigate the cause of the dis
aster- I found that the hamestrinp
was loose. Was it possible that ]
. had failed to tie the string? Or haC