The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-04

one-half dollars. Then Mrs. Baldwin's
bank account. exclusive of interest,
could have been balanced, showing a
total of twelve hundred and eighty
two dollars and fifty cents.
And had Mr.. Hamilton, as hus-
bandman, been far-sighted. and pruned
and cared for the tree, Mrs. Baldwin,
and marketed her offspring, the APP
pies, hand picked and wrapped in in
dividual papers, the net returns would
have paid for the farm in his lifetime.
This same Mr.. James Hamilton, no
doubt, would dispute the above state
mentor excuse himself by declaring
he had never had time to STOOL away"
wrapping apples. Yet for months on
end each year, during the long New
England winters, he has sat by the
fire, day by day, thinking and think
ing. Sometimes he just sat, and did
not think at all.
As I write this article, ! can look
out on my own orchard from my study
window. ! am the proud possessor of
one of the old colonial farms, recent
acquisition. 1t is historical estate
had been in one family for two hun
bred years, until | bought for a small
sum from an unwilling owner here
near Danbury, Connecticut. | ex-
plain that I've owned the place for
only short time, so as to escape CEN
sure for writing what | do not prac-
tice. For my orchard is also dilapi-
dated. Strange as it may seem,
though, the orchard has been fea-
ture always, quite as much as the red
brick house of twenty-eight rooms
but the trees have been neglected like
all others. There are within my view
sixty or more apple trees, ranging in
ages from twenty to one-hundred
years. They are now covered on the
tops with millions and millions Of
blossoms; underneath are enough dead
branches and twigs, jumbled in with
the live, Towering ones, to kindle my
fires for the next two winters. There
is a Mrs. Baldwin outside, within
twenty feet of me. She is one hearty
member of the row that stretches
away across the orchard Faithfully
for four generations she has served
the family that founded this home
stead, and is willing and anxious to
serve me. She assures me she has
not been pruncd in her long career,
except when a storm broke off a use
less branch. I've promised her an ov-
erhauling next year,
At once there is furry of excite
ment in the orchard. Mrs. Northern
Spy. who is ever jealous of Mrs.
Baldwin, waves a bough loaded with
blossoms, and sheds shower of dew
drop tears, asking: "Am | to be neg
lected longer?" Mrs. Tompkins King
is instantly at hushed attention. Mrs.
Ben Davis, ponderous and generous,
fans herself with her sheaths of snow
white flowers. The other apple tree
ladies, Mesdames Jacobs Sweet, Vel
low Bellhower. Hubbardston, Pump
kin Sweet, Mcintosh, Fameuse, Maid
en- Blush, Benoni, June, Duchess OF
Oldenburg, Red Astrachan, Jonathan
and Rhode Island Greening, "make
eyes at me-" and with one accord, are
willing to begin a Irritation with me
if ! would only give them t1ifie Of
my time. I've put them all off unit
next year.
A prominent banker, in Boston
told me Of the interesting and profit
able experience of his 17-years-olc
son, who had renovated a venerable
orchard, in the country nearby. Some
time had elapsed, possibly a half doz
en- years, since the boy began, but
was assured that the son had mad.
lately more money annually from his
orchards than the father cleared il
his banking operations.
There are thousands of grand OLE
orchards in New England. New Yorl
State, Pennsylvania, and Maryland
in fact. all over the United States
that are slowly dying from neglect
Many poor families have comforta
BILE livings at their doors and do no
know it. The country, through care
lessness, is losing every summer mil
lions of dollars in apples.