New-York tribune., 1918-06-28
No Title
BY Haywood d Broun

merely said "George F. Sweetser, Real
L. Estate Agent" Only after his letter
came did we realize the sort Of man with
whom we had to deal. The letter was much
more communicative than the advertisement.
The left-hand half of the envelope read:
"George f. Sweetser, Storm King on the
Hudson, New York. Lcgaized expert Judge
Of horses, cattle, poultry, fruits, etc.--pornol-
ogist and botanist--private scoring and
mating Notwithstanding Judge Of races
originator of Buff Brahmas--brcedcr OF
prize winning, standard bred poultry, cattle,
tc.-superintendent of farm produce and
grain at New York State Fair
was careful, therefore, to explain my
business at the beginning. ~ want to sec
farm" said.
"I'm certainly glad to see you coming out
this way" said the pomologist. 1--WE want
new blood. We want active, hard-working
young fellows around here. We got too
many amateurs and old fogies. Would you
believe it, lot of fellows around here won't
use green fertilizer, even when tell them
about it,"
"No?" l said.
"They just want to stick in the old rut
and do things the way their grandfathers
did before there war Do you know
what it is makes things grow?"
"Rain," suggested, after long pause.
eyes, rain of course" said the originator
Of Buff Brahmas, "but nitrogen, too. And
where do we get nitrogen?"
at comes from Chile, or Honduras, or
some place down that way, doesn't it?" l
hazardcd.
"No. sir" said the starting judge Of races.
"Up here in Putnam County we get it right
out of the air That's what green fertilizer
does--just brings it right out of the air."
And he reached up and clutched some
thing, as if he was going to bring some
down himself and show it to ME. Instead,
he let the gas drift away and pointed to a
farm just across the road from the post
Office.
"Do you see that farm over there"
nodded.
"Well, that man took my advice and he
got 440 bushels of potatoes on two acres"
l tried to think just how far 440 bushels
of potatoes might stretch il French fried
and placed end to end. 1t was beyond me.
"That's lot of potatoes" 1 nurmured.
"Ill say it is," answered Mr.. Sweetser.
"You know what potatoes were selling for
last year?" he said aggressively.
"Not last year." answered
"Well, they were selling for $3.50 a
bushe. I told that man over there to hold
off bit, but he didn't take my advice, and
later on they sold for 50. 1t wasn't such
bad business, either, at $1.5O. Do you know
1,o,v d cn
I could do that one, and after awhile /
said "S660."
eyes, sir" said Mr.. Sweetser "And this
farm I got for sale is eighty-ive acres.
Now, suppose you put all that in potatoes.
How much could you get?"
"lt would be lot of money" said, after
vain attempt to work it out in my head.
"Not that I'd advise you to put it all in
potatoes. There's cows and corn and ber-
ries and pigs This is lovely country for
pigs. You certainly owe it to yourself to
have pigs. If was young man I'd just
do nothing but pigs. And there's al
falfa You can cut that three times year,
and you get about FIVE tons to the acre.
There was man on place right next to
mine that put four ana half acres into
corn ana he got $349.7O for it,"
"Hows the house? 2" interrupted.
"Oh, don't you bother about the house."
said Mr.. Sweetser. ats comfortable.
That's what I'd call Uncomfortable. And
allus say you're not buying houses; they
don't count for nothing in the long run:
you're buying land. Even if that was an
elegant house, you'd want to fix it up some
way to suit yourself, wouldn't you? I'd
like to show you the place this afternoon.
There's good corn. and know you'd enjoy
seeing the rye and the pigs. But, you see,
I'm kinder pressed for time. Pm superin-
tendent of big place around here, and I
got to look at that, and later on this after.
noon have to register the alien enemies
the women, you know-and tonight there's
q meeting of the draft board guess I've
told you enough, though, about what kind Of
land 1t is around here. Just look at this
piece right here"
He led the way across the road
You wouldn't find finer soil than that If
You was to drive all afternoon Just look
at it," And he kicked some Of the rocks
away SO that could get a closer view.
Why, the crops alone and the timber
ought to pay for this place in a couple of
months. Why, I'd just love to buy it N.Y.
self IT was young fellow and wasn't so
pussy IL you come UP this way again let
me know when to expect you because I've
got to go up and superintend fair next
Thursday, and on Friday I'm Judging
chickens' and Saturday the school board
meets"