UNIFORM WIT1R
"MY TEN-ROD FARM."
at
I
L I OR  RN G, Publisher,
319 WA SIIINGTON- STREET,
BOSTON.
4 /E.
,  -_
14 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tlhe year 1869, by
A. K. LORIN(,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
ROCKWELL & 1ROLLINS Printers and Stereotypers,
122 Washington Street, Boston.
#1 
WHO o EEost,
'~ WHO, NEEDING HELP,
WOULD HELP THEMSELVES,
IF THEY BUT KNEW THE  WAY.  
FARMING BY INCHES;
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
CHAPTER I.
THE DREAM REALIZED.
"; WELL, doctor, what is it?"
"Oh, nothing serious as yet.  He'seems very weak, but
I cannot discover symptoms  of any definite disease.  I
think his illness is more the result of overwork than of anything else.   He  is asleep  now,  and had  best  not  be
awakened."  So saying he opened the front door and departed into the gas-lighted street.
Locking the door, I went upstairs, turned down the gas
in my husband's sick room, and, wrapping a shawl about me
sat down by the fire in the next room to watch and to think.
My husband, the head book-keeper in a down-town commission-house, had been brought home in a carriage that
morning quite ill. He had not been well for some time, but,
not thinking it anything serious, had continued his daily
labor at his desk.  At'night he had seemed worse;  so I
called the doctor.  You have just heard what he said as he
5
I,
II
.5
t.
R4
so- - 
FARMING BY INCHES;
went away a few moments since.  We have been married
about a year. This house, No. 95 Columbia Avenue, is our
home.  We are both orphans, and have no relations of any
kind, save anl uncle of my husband's  living in Arenae,
some fifty miles from the city.  So far our married life has
been very happy. Our income was sufficiefit to give us a
home, comfortable, if not luxurious.  But now a cloud bad
risen. MIy husband and bread-winner was sick, and that
meant' poverty.  If he could not toil at his deskl, our income
was at an end, and with all our economy we had laid aside
but a trifling sum for such a contingency as had now overtaklen us. Should he remain ill for many weeks, our case
would be desperate.  Slowly turning over these things in
my mnind, I sat gazing at The fire, and trying to build up in
the glowing coals some vision of the future. -After a while,
Weary with watching, I fell asleep in my chair.  Suddenly
I seemed transported to some distant spot. I thought I was
in a quiet room somewhere in tlhe country. The window
where I sat looked out upon meadows green, fair with
flowers. Graceful vines trailed over the casement and cast
a checkered shade onl the floor.  The sun was  shining
brightly, and a gentle breeze just stirred the leaves upon
the tall trees that grew beside the house. Presently the
door opened, and Robert, my husband, entered, and, oh,
how changed! HIe seemed  tenll years  younger.  Perfect
6 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
health flushed his cheek  and  sparkled in his eyes.  His
voice, usually so weak and thin, greeted me with loud and
hearty welcome. Overcome with joy, I went to meet him
-and woke up to find the fire out and the cold, gray
light of a winter's morning streaming in at the window.
Peering  out through the frosted panes, I saw  a heavily
ladlen horse-car painfully toiling through the snowy street.
A  few pedestrians, well wrapped  up, were  hurrying-along
the sidewalk, trying to keep warm.  The sky was the color
of lead, and.the air was full of falling snow. Altogether,
it was a dreary scene.  Goin,g to my husband, I found him
still asleep. As I stood looking at him, I was struck by
the pinched and haggard expression of hie face. It was
the face of a man starved for the want of fresh air and
sunshine.   Presently he opened' his eyes and smiled on
me; but it only made me heart-sick to see it. It was a sad
and weary smile.
But why prolong the story? For six long weeks- I
hardly left him for a moment.  The doctor came nearly
every day. My husbanld's employers called several times,
offered every kindness, and, in the spirit of true and honorable merchants, continued his salary during, his illness.  At,
last he was able to sit np, and could even sit by the window
for an hour or so, and amuse himself by looking on the
busy street.  Yet he seemed very weary and listless all the
7 
FARMING BY INCHES;
time.  I tried hard, but failedcl, to interest him in alnything.
One day, to enitertain him, I told him my dream.
" Yes, Harriet, but it was only a dream. Such a pleasant
home is never destined to be ours."
Then he leaned back in his chair, and seemed lost in
thought, while I went on with my sewing. In a moment or
two  a smile flitted over his face, and he stared very hard
out of the window as if he saw something vastly amusing
in the street. But this did not last long; he soon turned
away, and the same old look of weariness returned.
"A  penny for your thoughts, my  dear," said I.  "If
they are pleasant ones, give me my share; if they are sad
ones, let me divide the burden with you."
"I was thinking of your dream, and wishing we could
m-e it come true. These brick walls and Farwell & Co.'s
sunless cistern of a counting-room are slowly killing  me.
But it is of no use.  I could not earn  my salt in the
country."
Farther cohversation was then silenced by the entrance
of the doctor. To tell the truth, I was not glad to see him.
His bill was already large enough, and we should have a
sorrowful time in paying it off, and to see it increased by
another visit was not pleasing. Yet I was mistaken in the
man. He had come to do us a real kindness. Going up to
Robert, he took his hand and said, " This will be my last
. 8 
6R, WITIH BRAINS, SIR.
visit at present, Mr. Nelson. In a few days, I think you
may venture out for a walk in the middle of the day. You
must not think of returning to your desk for sometime.
To tell the truth, I have come this afternoon to say that in
my opinion you had better never return to your countingroom at all. Nature has now given you one fair warning.
This illness, if you read it rightly, is sent to inform you
that she objects to your occupation. You must heed her,
and give it up."
" Well, doctor,' if I did not know you to be a man of
sense and education, I should say you were getting quite
wild. The thing is impossible. What can I do, if I leave
the office?"
" That is more than I know; but I do know that you must
threw up your business, or shorten your life by about twenty
years. Your desk will as surely kill you as  any other
slow poison."
"You may be right," said my husband, after a pause.
"I have even thought of this myself at times. But what
can I do?  Where and how can we live?"
" How you can live is more than I can tell.  Where - is
plain enough. You must live out of town - or die. Come,
take my advice, sell out and move into the country."
" A very pretty idea, doctor; but in the country I should
quietly starve.  I may as wejl stagger along as I am for a
1 9
0 
FARMIING BY INCHES;
few years, as to go from the city ahld die of poverty in a few
weeks."
"Nonsense! man; you are sick, and hardly know what
you are saying.  The idea of a man of your education wanting for support anywhere! Take  my advice, seek some
out-of-door employment, - farming, surveying, - anything
that will keep you out under the open sky and in the fresh
air."
To this there was no reply save a gloomy shake of the
head.  Then the doctor bade us good-day.  As I opened
the door to let him out, hlie said to me, "Mrs. Nelson,
there is but one thing to be done.  Take your husband
away from the city, and keep him away; that is, if you
wish to see him live."
Next morning the letter-carrier brought a black-bordered
letter for my husband. I gave it to Dim, and he-broke
the seal and read it.  It did not seem to interest him much,
for  he merely said,  "Old Uncle Jacob is dead.  Poor
man! his was a dull and lonely life up there at Arenac.
It must be almost a relief to be taken away, and to join his
long-dead wife and  children."  Then  he  continued  liis
reading.  Soon he came to something interesting, for he
brightened up, and with  a  smile passed the letter to
me.
It was as follows:
. 10
a 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
0
" AR.NAC,.arch 3, 186-.
"MIR. ROBERT NELSON.
"DEAR SIR: It is our painful duty to inform you that your
uncle, Jacob Nelson, died at his residence a few days since, and
was buried yesterday. WVe would have informed you of this
before, but we wvere ignorant of the fiact that he had  any living
relations. WVe were only apprised of it this morning by finding
his will among his papers. By the said will you are made his
sole heir. His property consists of the small house in which. he
lived, a parcel of land, and a small sum of money in our Savings
Bank. The house is unoccupied at present, and awaits your
disposal. The estate could be sold readily, if you have no other
use for it. An early visit from you is desirable.
"Your obedient servants,
"CRESSWELL & JOHNSON,
"Attorneys and Solicitors."
"When shall you go?" said I.
"Go where?"
"Why, to Arenac, to see our little estate!"
"No, I'll not go at all. I will write to these people,
and have them sell the place and remit the money. I cannot afford the time or money to travel so far."
"Now, Robert, I object.  Let us both go there.  It will
do us good to have a short trip into the country. The
11
0 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
money will be w1ll spent; besides, it will be but taking a
dose of the doctor's last prescription."
At nine o'clock on the following Aonlday morning we
were seated in the cars, ready to start for Arenac. There
were but few seats occupied, and we arranged our wraps
and shawls so as to.have as comfortable a time as possible.
Just as we had  got nicely fixed, two stout countrymen
came and sat down  in  the next seat behind us.  They
both look out papers and fell to reading. Soon we started.
For  the first half-hour we were  speeding  through  the
spburbs of the city. Then the houses dwindled away, and
the open country with the fields and woods slid like a panorama past the windows. At first Robert discovered but little
of interest outside of the car; but the sight of the brown
fields and bare woods seemed to bring back memories of
his boyhood, and he brightened up and manifested more
signs of returning health than I had  dared to hope for.
After a while he became tired of gazing at the scenery,
leaned back, and closed his eyes as if to rest, leaving me
to my own devices. As for me I was only too happy to see
him, as I fondly imagined, already getting better. Just
then the two  men behind tus finished  their reading  and
began  to.talk.  They  had evidently  never learned  the
"car-whisper," and I could hear every word.
"IHow's business, Jack?"
12
0 
OR, WITHI BRAINS, SIR.
"Good  enough.  We  can sell  all we  can get.  The
trouble is to get enough to sell."
What you selling, mostly?"
"Mleat and sass. It is mighty hard work to get good
sass up at Arenac.  The farmers won't grow it, and we
have to send to the city for all our stuff.  Besides, the jobbers ask so much that our people won't pay us enough to
make it an object."
" I found the same trouble at my place. They all want
green sass in the spring, but don't want to pay such high
prices. However, they will have it any way, and once a
week I get up a car-load from town. I don't make anything on it.  It is pretty well spoiled by the time I get it.
I have asked Farmer Brown to raise me some; buthe and
all the rest do as their fathers did, and run in the same old
rut. Any one who would raise sass for us would make a
small fortune in time."
We reached our destination at noon, and went at once
to the hotel. After dinner and a short rest, we started
out to inspect the place. We found Arenllac to be a manufacturing town on the banks of the Hoosensacken. The
factories were all on the line of the river, and faced the
sing,le street that extended through the town.   On the
opposite  side of  the way  were the various stores that
supplied the material wants of the inhabitants. As we
e                                                                                                      e
II
13 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
passed along the sidewalk, I saw one of the men who sat
near us in the cars.  He was standing at the door of the
market, and seemed quite at home there. We found three
hotels, and four churches, and these. together with the
factories and dwelling-houses, made up a thriving New
England village.   A  single covered bridge spanned the
river near the railroad that crept along under the riverbank.  Just over the river a lofty, wooded hill rose like
a great wall, and lifted its rocky crags high over all.
The next morning we obtained the key, and started to
Walk out and see Uncle Jacob's little piece of property.
We soon left the houses behind, and came to the open
fields.  The day was fair, and the March  sun was shining
brightly. The scenery, though brown and bare, was lovely.
The walking was good,-and to walk or even live was
a pleasure on such a day,- while the pure and bracing
air inspired us with a sense of freedom and space to move
about in, that was a delight only city-bred people like
ourselves could appreciate.   After passing several farms,
we came to our own little place, as we had already learned
to call it, though we never intended to occupy it. The
house was quite small, - merely a one-story cottage, of
five rooms.  Behind the house was  a small barn.  The
parcel of land we found to consist of a ploughed field,
having thick woods on three sides, but open on the street,
14 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
or south side.  On entering the house we found it neatly
but plainly furnished. Uncle Jacob had evidently been a
man  of refinement, if not of wealth.  After inspecting
everything, we  sat down  by  the warm,  sunny window
to rest and admire the charming view.  On  the opposite
side of the road, wide-spreadillng fields extended toward
the village, whose tall spires and chimneys. peered over
the low  hill beyond  the fields.    Beyond  the villaige,
Mount Arenlac.  To the right we could see far down the
Hioosensacken valley, till the hills on either side were
lost in the blue distance. To the left, thick woods.
Charming view, - is it nlot?"
" Yes; but it must be very lonely here."
"That is true," said I; "yet I should enjoy living here
during the summer months."
"And  I, too.   It would  do me  a world of good to
spend a short time in this breezy mountain region."
"Why not do so?   Why not shut uLp  our city hol.se,
take a vacation, and stay here until the middle of April?
By that time you will be so much better you can return
to your desk with renewed streng,th and health.  We can
manage to picnic in this box of a house for a few weeks
very comfortably.   Then, too, we  shall escape  the raw
east winds of the coast. It will do us both good, I am
sure.   Besides, it will be cheaper living here -than  at
15 
FARMING BY INCHES;
home, and the expense is something we have to consider
just now."
Two days after this, our trunks were established for
bureaus in our new residence, and my dream in a measure
came true.
16 
OR, WITtI BRAINS, SIR.
CHAPTFER II.
E  FARMING ON PAPER.
As we intended to return in a short time we brought but
little from the city, but used instead the things which we
found in the house.  Our time we passed in most delightful
idleness.  We had come for rest, and to recruit our health
and strength; therefore we took things as easily as possible.
We had but two meals a day, to save trouble.  Most of the
time we were out walking, or reading when the roads were
bad.  We slept a good deal, and did nothing a good deal
more.  About the twentieth of the month we began to recover our old-time health andl spirits; for I found when the
excitement of my husband's sickness was over, that I, too,
was far fiom well. It was then I began to wish we could
stay here all the time. Turning this over in my mind, I
wondered what we could do for.a support if we were to remain. We could not livefin idcleness, that was certain. At
breakfast one morning, I opened the matter by saying:
What is sass, Robert?"
Garden sauce, I suppose,- lettuce, beans, etc."
"Do you remember our first ridcle up to this place?"
"Yes; what of it?"
1T
10 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
"Did you hear the conversation between the two men who
sat behind us in the cars?  Your eyes were closed at the
time; perhaps you were sleeping."
"No, I was only dozing and heard every word.   I have
several times thought of what they said, and wondered why
no.-one tried to stupply their wants.  I am almost tempted
to do something of the kind myself; but I suppose we have
not land enough."
"0 Robert! do try it.  We have a three-acre field.  Is
that not enough to experiment upon? Do try, please, for six
months. Send word to Farwell & Co. that you have decided
to give up your place; doubtless you can commnand another
in the fall.  It is of no consequence if we do not make anything by the operation. If we pay our way it will be enough.
We can sell out in October, and return to the city with your
health established for life."
"The  idea, HIarriet! The idea of our turning' sassfarmers.'  What could you do - a woman, or I- a bookkeeper?"
"Do?  Why, you can do anything, if you only try.  The
doctor said a man of your talents would prosper anywhere.
As for me, I could help in, many ways besides keeping the
house, picking peas, washing lettuce, or other light work."
"What a woman you are, rlarriet!  WVith such a wife, a
man would succeed in anything. I shall, I am sure. By
18
6 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
the way, see what I found at one of the hotels  yesterday."
So sayingo, he drew forth a small paper-coveredcl book,
"Washburn's Amateur Cultivator's Guide to the Flower
and Kitchen Garden."
' Just what we want," said I.  " Fortune favors us slightly,
Robert. Come, let us set up for' sass-farmners' for a summer."
"Agreed!  We  will farm for a living for six months.
Then we wil]. cast our shells, and come out in our original
characters as city-folks."
So far I have told my story as if I were the ruling spirit
in the house.  3Iy husband's illness threw nearly all the responsibility of our action on me.  As his health returned, I
gladly gave up the reins, and henceforth this will be more
the record of his doings than of mine, or, better, our doings,
for in the new farming enterprise we had an equal share.  I
tried to carry out to the best of my ability the old-fashioned
idea of a womanl's being a helpmeet to her husband. At
first I ilnagiued in my ignorance that I could aid him directly
about our little farm; but I soon found that there was an immense deal to be done aside from mere field-work.  MIy share
of the dtfties ultimately became that of house-keeper and
accountant.  In this I was fully employed.  The hlouse-leeping part ~iNs easy enough, but keeping accurate accounts of
4e
.0
19 
FARMING BY INCHES;
our sales and expeniditures proved to be no small undertakin(r.  After we were well under way hardlly a day passed
without its moneyed transaction to be attended to in detail.
One day there would be a quantity of strawberries to be sent
off, the bills made out, and the boxes accounted for; another
day a wagon load of vegetables had to be counted, despatched, and properly accounted for on the return of the
empty wagon. Perhaps you wonder why my husband did
not see to this himself, he being a skilled accountant.  It is
true lie could have done so; but every hour spent-on work I
could do as well was an hour lost on work I could not do at
all.
Having fully made up our minds to try our hands at the
business of farming, we resolved that all things should be
conducted in the most systematic order.  We would bring
our methodical and mercantile ways of doing things into a
business notoriously loose and-inaccurate in its operations.
AIanifestly the first thing to be done was to draw up on
paper some sort of a plan of tvhat we proposed to do, and
then endeavor to carry it out as nearly as may be.
After breakfast Robert walked to the village and procured
the dleed of our estate. Therein we found ourselves possessors of a certain parcel of land, bounded on the- east by a
line commencing on the county road at a stone post next
a(joining the estate of Widow Comfort Jones, aid running
4b
20 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.'
northerly three hundred and sixty-three feet, to the estate of
Justin Stamfordi thence westerly three hundred and forty-five
feet, to the estate of Isaac Kempenfielder; thence southerly
three hundred and sixty-three feet, to the county-road; thence
easterly along said road to the first-named point,- the total
area being one hundred and thirty-two thousand square feet,
a little more than three acres. From this must be taken the
land occupied by the buildings and the narrow strip of
woods on. the north and west sides.  The woods on the east
belonged to 31rs. Jones, "Widow Comfort," as she was
called.  After studying this over we walked out to inspect.
It seemed very small on paper; but when we had walked over
the frozen ground all around the bounds, we came to the
conclusion that our little farm was quite an extensive affair
when measured by feet and inches. At any rate, to go all
round it was something of a walk. Little as we knew about
such things we could not fail to see that, for our purposes, no
place could be more favorably located. It was open to the
sun all day, while the woods formed a shelter from the most
troublesome winds.   When  we  returned tom our walk
Robert got out writing materials, and, drawing a table utp to
the window, began to write, while I took my sewing, and sat
by his side, where I coul?l look out far down the river-valley,
and watch the shadows chasing each other over the distant
hills.  Presently Robert turned to me and said:- 
21
0
0 
FARMING BY INCHES;
See, Harriet, here is a list of books on the sulject of
farming.  I made it up from the last page of Washburn &
Co.'s catalogue. I am going to the city this afternoon, and
shall be gone two days. I shall. get these books, and send
them to you by mail to-nighlt. While I am gone you can
amuse yourself by looking them over, and finding out what
there is in them that will be of use to us. We must follow
the example of the students, and' cram for a profession.'"
"Bopks,   I was thinking of them," said I; "but what
is going to detain you in town so long?"
Why, you see, if we really intend to turn farmers, the
sooner we begin the better, and the sooner we cut all connection with the city the quicker we can commence. Here
is -a list of what furniture we shall need while here; the
rest I propose to sell. I shall then pay all our bills, give
up our house on Columbia Avenue, and dissolve my connection with Farwell & Co.  Do you approve?"
"Yes, I like most of it.  I approve of all your plans save
the idea of leaving me here alone while you are gone.  Why
cannot I accompany you?"
"There is no reason why you cannot. But I thought to
save you all trouble, and the pain of parting from our first
home, besides the fatigue of the joutney."
"I can bear the fatigue as well as you; and what if you
should be taken ill, and I not near you? You are not -set a
i.
22
a 
OR, WITHII BRAINS, SIR.
giant, sir, if you have lived in the country ten whole
days."
At six o'clock that evening we were set down in the
city. The street lamps were lighted, and as we went up
town in a crowded horse-car, we could not fail to notice the
difference between the sunny, quiet place we had left, and
the dark, narrow, and noisy streets that hitherto we had
thought perfection in their way.
The two following days were busy ones indeed. Finally,
everything was accomplished, and we took our final departure from the city, bidding farewell, not without a pang, to
our city friends and neighbors.  They all thought our move
a good one as a sanitary measure, but intellectually and
socially-doubtfuil; financially - very doubtful.   How  far
they were right in this, my story must unfold. That evening we lighted our new centre-table lamp, and sat down
by ourselves in our own houtise, with thankful, hopeful
hearts, and at peace with all the world. Fvery bill had
been paid. We were under our own roof-tree, humble as it
was, and about to embark upon a new enterprise, in which
we could both have an equal share, and be to each other trfiue
helpers.
" Now, Harriet, let us draw up some sort of a plan of
what we intend to do this summer. The first thing to be
considered is finance.  We  have a house to live in, rent
23 
FARMING BY INCHES;
free. This furniture, together with that which is on the
way to us, is sufficient for the summer. Our trunks contain
enough for all our wants as far as clothing is concerned.
The question now is, how much money must we have to
support ourselves from now till the first of October-? How
much will it cost per month?"
"About seventy dollars," said I.  "But shall we not
receive a large part of our support from the farm? Will
not the land contribute to our table?"
" Doubtless; but let us' err on the safe side,' and go on
the supposition that ouir farm is not going to pay anything.
Then if it does not we shall not be disappointed, nor shall
we suffer for want of a support. Seventy dollars a month
for six months would amount to four hundred alnd twenty
dollars. I propose to have this sum laid one side for this
purpose.  By so doing we can return to the city in the fall
clear of debt, even thlough our farming speculation should
prove a total'failure. If the land does contribute to our
dlining-table, we will credit the farm with the value of the
things so used."
" Why, Robert, you are going into farming like a banker.
Do you propose to have a counlting-room attached to the
place, and to have huge ledgers wherein are entered every
little item of receipt and expenditure, after the manner of
Farwell & Co.?"
24 
OR,. WITH BRAINS, SIR.                 25
"Not exactly; but I do propose to apply mercantile precision to the pursuit of farming.  See what a help it will be
to us.  If we make anything out of it, our books will show
how to do it again; if we lose money, they will show us
wherein we failed."
"I admit the advantage of all this; but will not the keeping of these accounts require a great deal of time and
labor?"
"In the aggregate it will.  Taking it up every day, and
squaring the accounts each  night, will reduce it to a very
trifling affair. According to Uncle Jacob's will we have in
the Arenac Savings Bank the sum of seven hundred. and
fifty dollars.  The sale of our things in town, after paying
our bills;producad two hundred dollars.  Our. own savings
added to this make our available cash capital up to eleven
hundred dollars.   Taking from this, four hiundred  ante
twenty dollars for our support, we shall have remaining six
hundred and eighty dollars'for a working capital. Now,
what shall we do with it in order to get the largest possible
return? Let us consult our first agricultural friend, Washburn.  Let us open the book at random, and see what we
find."
So saying, Robert opened the book hap-hazard, and said,
"Lettuce."
"Just the thing," said I.  " Lettuce is classed as'sass,'
2 
FARMING BY INCHE;
and doubtless will sell well. Shall we put that down for one
of our crops?"
"Yes; and having decided to try lettuce we must read up
on the subject. Washburn says of it: -
" "The lettuce is generally divided into two classes, namely,
cabbage lettuces and cos lettuces. The cabbage have round
heads and broad-spreading leaves; the cos varieties have
long heads and upright, oblong leaves.
"'Culture. - A-very rich soil is necessary to produce fine
head lettuce. Its crisp and tender quality depends very
much on a luxuriant  and vigorous growth.  The earliest
sowing may be made in February or March, under glass
with slight heat. Keep the plants thin, and admit plenty
of air to the frame every fine day.  For later supplies, sow
in the open ground as soon as the season will permit; transplant, or thin out the plants.gradually to a foot apart, and
keep well cultivated. The cos lettuces are excellent, if
grown early in the spring, but run to seed quickly in hot
weather. The large'cabbage kinds are best, and most suitable for summer crops.
"'Early-curled Silesia.- Standard sort; very early; the
best for forcing and the first spring sowing; makes a loose
head; tender, and of excellent flavor.
"'Early Tenfiisball.- One of the oldest and most esteemed
of the cabbage lettuce. The head is below medium size;
26 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
dark-green; very solid if grown in cool weather; one of the
earliest and best.'
"And so on, for twenty or'more sorts. All this is doubtless very fine, but I doubt if either you or I can understand
it all.  Wonder what a frame is?"
"I'm sure I don't know.  The only framne I ever saw was
a bonnet-frame."
Robert suddenly got up and went to the next room. If
I had not known him well, I should have imagined he was
offended at my levity. In a moment he returned, bringing
two large books, which he laid on the table, saying:  "I bought these yesterday.  They cost a good deal, but
as tools in our business they will prove invaluable.' The
American Gardener's Calendar,' by Bernard McMahon,
and'The Field and Garden  Vegetables of America,'  by
Feariu.g Burr, Jr. You take one; I'll take the other, and
we will read up on lettuce."
For the next half hour nothing was heard in the room
save the slow turning of the leaves.  Suddenly Robert shut
his book with a slam, gave a low whistle, and said:  "Goodness! What a tremendous thing lettuce is!  I
have read twenty-six pages on the subject, and am almost in
a muddle over it."
"And my author refers to it on thirteen different pages.
How shall we ever master the subject?"
1.
27
0
0
0 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"By perseverance and common  sense.  I am going to
order some seed of Washburn this very night."  Then he
began to write a letter.  While writing he went on talking.
" As far as I can understand the matter, lettuce seems
to be soinething that-can be forced; by that I suppose they
mean it can be forced, or compelled, to grow in advance of
the regular season by artificial means, such as shelter, etc.
I cannot now tell how this is accomplished, but I have no
doubt we can invent some method if we put our minds to it
At any rate we will try."
The next morning the remainder of our furniture arrived
from the city, and nearly the whole day was taken up in
setting our new home in order.  At nightfall we again sat
down to our reading.  To tell the truth, we were both fascinated with the books. Though we could not understand
all they had to say, yet we found it a novel and pleasing
sensation to read aid talk about the real, tangible things of
which they treated. We discussed lettuce far into the night.
I was awakened early the next morning by a great pounding in our barn.  Hastily dressing, I went down to see what
was going on. I found my husband had turned carpernter, and
was busy with saw, hammer, and boards,'making a huge box.
"What are you making, Robert?"
"A hot-bed frame. I made a lucky find this morning.
In the barn chamber I discovered three sashes. I knew
9 28
40 1
4 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
what they were at once, and am going to make a frame to
sow our lettuce-seed in."
"What a man you are, Robert!  Where did you learn to
be a carpenter, and who told you how to make a frame? "'
"Taught myself-' Washburn."'  Then with a few finishing raps with the hammer, he stopped and said, "Come,
let us hate breakfast. I am as hungry as several bears."
"I am glad of it. It is a good sign, and shows that the
doctor's prescription is beginning to work."
As we entered the house I glanced at the clock.  "See,
.                            *  -~~~~~~~~~.
Robert," said I, "it is not yet six, and here we both are
ready for breakfast. Such a wonderful thing never happened before."
After breakfast my husband took his hat and coat, and
bade me good-morning, saying, "I am  going to the village
to procure some tools."
In about an hour I was startled by the sound of wheels
in our yard.  Looking out of the window I discovered Robert seated in an old hay-cart, and by his side a tall, elderly
man, with iron-gray hair, blue eyes, and a face expressive of
. good-nature and good sense. As the team drew up at the
door, I went out to meet them.
"My  wife, Mr. Kempenfielder.  Harriet, this is one of
our near neighbors. I met him at the market, and he very
kindly brought me and my luggage home in his hay-cart."
29
I 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"Glad to see you, ma'am," said Mr. Kempenfielder, ad vancing  and  offering his  huge, bony hand.   I almost
laughed when I- took it, for I could not grasp such a digital
immensity.  He shook my hand, and at once I felt a new
sensation. It was not like any in my experience. It was
a hand-grasp expressive of honest, hearty, good-natured wel come.  Not a "society" hand-shake. 
"Glad to see you, ma'am.  You're welcome.to Arenac,
I'm sure. Mary - she's my wife -was a-saying the other day
she kinder wished some one would locate here. Old Jacob,
he that lived here before, was a quiet man, and wan't very
neighborly. He's your uncle maybe. Yes, I thought he
was. Well, I'm glad you have come. Come over and see
us when you get fixed.  My folks will be mighty glad to see
you.  Hello! there, let me help you;" and away he went
towards the hay-cart from which Robert was trying to lift a
large sack full of potatoes.
"You  aint very strong, are you?   You  look kinder
peaked any way. Guess country living will build you
up, soon."
So saying, he took the sack from the team easily enough.
I could not fail to notice the man's great strength and
Robert's weakness.   Yet  it did not disturb me.   One
was  a farmer,  the  other  a broken-down  book-keeper.
Which  is the better man  il other respects remains  to
30.,
0 
0R, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
be seen.  Depositing  the bag of potatoes on the ground,
he then took several garden tools, rakes, shovels, etc.,
from the cart, and carefully placed them on the doorstep.
"Nice tools, those.  Looks as if you meant to garden
some."
" Just what we  propose to do," said Robert.           W Wre
intend to run this small farm this summer."
Do you though?  Well, you are plucky.  It's more'n
I'd do, and I have farmed it for nigh on to forty years.
You couldn't raise wheat enough on that to keep a man
busy."
"W  oln't propose to raise wheat at all."
" Don't you though?  Corn, per'aps?"
"No, we shall not attempt any heavy crops."
"1What will you raise, -pigs?"
"WVe hardly know as yet,-not pigs, certainly. We
may try lettuce."
"Lettuce! Raise lettuce!  Well, I wish you joy in your
und(lertalking."
So saying, he began to climb  into his hay-cart.  As
he started off, he said he was glad to have us for neighbors, but guessed we had a tough road before us.
" Eincouragting, -is it not?" said I, rather soberly.
"Yes -vey — " said Robert, slowly; " but then if we
81 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
change our plans every time any one frowns upon them,
we shall not get along very fast."
By noon that day Robert had placed his new hot-bed
frame in a sheltered spot on the sunny side of the barn,
and had placed the three glass sashes over it. As I went
out to call him to dinner, I glanced into the frame, anql
found it nearly full of broken lumps of firozen soil.  The
sun shining through the glass was rapidly thawing and
crumbling them to pieces.
"What are you trying to do, Robert?"
"Trying to thaw out a part of our farm.   I placed
those bits of frozen soil under the glass, and gu       they
would soon melt.  I have guessed right; it seems.  By tomorrow I think we shall have some nice dry soil to sow
our seeds in.   But come,  let us dine.   After that we
will go at our books again, and see if we can find out hQw
many lettuce-plants we can raise. From all I gathered
in the village this morning, I guess we can sell all we
can produce."
This excited my curiosity, and as soon as we were
fairly seated at the table, I asked for further information.
"The story is just this.  I asked the man at the market if he ever bought lettuce in the spring. Yes, he did,
large quantities.  He could sell more if he was not obliged
to transport it so far.   This was  too indefinite for me,
32 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
so I asked what he meant by large quantities.'Many
dozens a dlay,' said he, and then he repeated his remark
about the difficulty of obtaining it preventing still larger
sales. As he seemed busy, I did not trouble him with
further questions. Now, Harriet, let us rake up the little
we  do know  about lettuce, and see what we  can figure
out of it. Do you remember what we used to pay for
lettuce last spring?"
"About eight or ten cents."
"Well, if we paid, as consumers, eight cents, the provision store must have taken three cents for their profit,
and'sown-town'Jobber' got three or more cents for
his share, so that the grower only received about two
cents per head. That seems a very small price; but let
us reclon up what the grower could do with it as a crop."
Here my husband stopped suddenly, took out pencil
and paper, and became deeply absorbed in some calculations.  In a moment or so he looked up and said, ".Accordcling to the books, lettuce must be planted one foot
apart each way. Now, if I am not mistaken, one acre
filled with plants one foot apart would contain forty-three
thousand five hundred and sixty plants."
"Forty-three  thousand  plants?   Goodness,  Robert!
How could we ever take care of such an immense number?"
Paying no attention to my remark he went on: "Forty
33
r. 
FARMING BY INCHIIES;
three thousand five hundred and sixty plants, at one cent
each) would amount to four hundred and thirty-five dollars and sixty cents."   Here he stopped abruptly, and
began studying his figures again. As for me, I found
something very interesting at the bottom of my tumbler.
"How much did you say it would cost us to live this
summer, Harriet?"
"Four hundred and twenty dollars." 
"Good.  If we can raise an acre or more of lettuce,
the question of our support for the next six months is
nearly settled."
"Yes, if we can; but you must remember, s rr  we
have been farming only on paper."
34
0 
OR, WITH BRAIN'S, SIR.
CHAPTER III.
THE BEST FERTILIZER - BRAINS.
AFTER dinner Robert went out to look at his new frames,
while I began to clear away the table. Before I had finished, he returned, bringing in a large sheet of rusty iron,
on which was a pile of wet soil. This he gravely placed
on the kitchen stove.
"What are you about, Robert?"*
"About to apply caloric to a piece of our farm. The
soil in the frames has melted, but is still too cold and
wet, I fancy, to plant seeds in. I found this bit of Russia
iron, and I am going to bake some of the soil on it until
it is fit for use."
"Shall we  have  baked-farm for supper?"  asked  I,
demurely.
"Yes, in time, -that is, we may have the final result
of the baking for dinner or supper."
But you have not soil enough there to fill a tenth part
of the frames."
"I know it, my dear.  I have a better idea than that.
Wait a bit."
So saying, he went out leaving the pan of damp soil
35 
FARMING BY INCHES;
on the stove.  Presently, he  returned, bringing  an old
raisin-box,  some  strawbe.ry-boxes,  and  two  or three
cracked flower-pots.  These he put down near the stove,
and getting a seat and a book, drew himself close to the
fire and began to read.   The sight to  me  was  simply
funny.
"A pretty farmer you make, Robert! Toasting your
toes and your farm there by the fire."
He never answered a word.
Looking out of the window soon after, I observed  a
huge four-horse wagon turning into our yard.
"Why, Robert, what is all this? What are these people bringing in here?"
"1Ianure, I suppose. I bought a large lot this morning."
Whereupon he took his hat and went out. In about
half' an hour I heard the empty wagon drive away,
and my husband returned to his reading. The pile of
soil had by this time begun to throw off a cloud of steam,
and, drying rapidly, changed color from a disagreeable
black  to  a rich, deep brown.   Robert  then took  the
boxes and pots and filled them all full from the heap of
baked  soil.  This  done, he placed them  on  the  floor
behind the stove and out of harm's way.  Taking from
his pocket a small package  marked, "Seeds only," that
36 
OR) WITH BRAINS, SIR.
had evidently come through the post-office, and opening
it, he took out a quantity of small white seeds and carefully sprinkled them over the surface of the warm soil
in the boxes and pots, and finished all by covering them
carefully with mnore soil from the heap on the stove.
Then throwing old newspapers over it, he stood contemplating his work.  Suddenly, however, he started  as if
he had forgotten something.
"Oh! we must water them; but how shall we do it?"
"Take them to the sink and shake a wet brush over
them," said I.
"A  good idea, Harriet, seeing we have no watering-pot."
In a few moments this was done, and the pots and
boxes were replaced on the floor with the papers over them.
The next day was Sunday. At the ringing of the second bell we stepped from our door into the warm and
cheerful sunshine to walk to the village, proposing to
attend one of its churches.   We  found  the road filled
with people, some walking and some riding, and all wending their way toward the village.  Being  city people, we
walked rapidly at our usual sidewalk pace,  and passed
every one on the road.  Soon we overtook a well-dressed
lady walking soberly along by herself.  As  we came  up
with her, we ventured to speak to her.
" Can you tell us, madam, which is the Unitarian Church?"
37 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"I can. It is the brown one with the tall steeple. I
am going there myself, and will show you the way."
Thereupon we slackened our pace to keep in her company.
"It is a fine day, is it not?"
"Yes, the Lord adorns and gladdens his temple to-day.
He delights to make it beautiful; but then, creation, his
house, is always lovely. How fine the old mountain looks
to-day, such charming light and shade!"
Not quite knowing what to make of this, I merely said,
"Yes."
"'Do you not admire the true and beautiful in nature?"
continued our companion, turning upon us a face full of
intelligence, serenity, and refinement.
"Yes," said my husband; "we do indeed.  How can we
help it with so much beauty spread around us this quiet
Sabbath day?"
We had now reached the church-door, and our guide,
whoever she was, passed in before us. Before she left us,
however, she turned to say, " My own pew, unfortunately, is quite full to-day, or I would take you to it. But
the sexton will, no doubt, find you seats.  There he stands
near the side-door.  Good-morning."
"What a singular woman, Robert!"
"I hardly thinlk that she belongs hereabouts."
"How so?" 
88
I 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
" They told us, you know, we should find only boors in
the country."
"They said so, to be sure; but it strikes me they knew
nothing about it."
On our return from church, after service, we again overtook our friend just before reaching our own gate.  She
bowed and smiled, and we returned the salute as gracefully
as we could.
" You must be the young people who have moved into the
Nelson house?"
"Yes; we have come to spend the summer here for the
benefit of our health."
" You could not do a wiser thing. Free air and sunshine
are cheap but wonderful remedies for every ill, mental or
bodily."
" Do you live near us, may we inquire?"
" Yes, I am  your next neighbor.  Comfort, -  Comfort
Jones is my name."
" I am quite pleased to know it," said my husband, extending his hand.  " Let us hope to see more of you,' Mrs.
Jones."
" Thank you, sir. But you must remember, I am an old
and very quiet person. I do not venture out much, and am
simple and plain in all my ways; not in the least like the
gay people you have left in the city."
39 
FARMING BY INCHIES;
"Quiet simplicity is what we desire, madam.  My wife
and I know how to appreciate it, I assure you."
" Indeed we do," said I.  "None are more simple in their
tastes than we."
In truth, this sweet-faced, self-possessed old lady quite
charmed me.
" I'hope we shall see more of you, Mrs. JoRes."
" You shall;" and she bade us good-morning and disappeared in the woods.
We had a very early breakfast the next morning, as Robert said he had a great deal of 4ork on hand.  Breakfast over,
he put on stout leather boots and a suit of old clothes, and
went out to meet  two  laboring men  who arrived from
the village at seven o'clock. I saw no more of him till
twelve, when he came in to dinner. We had changed our
dinner-timne. since removing to Arenac, and dined at the unromantic hour of noon. This we found divided our day
much more evenly than one or two o'clock. Indeed, one of
thle first surprises of our country life was the extraordinary
length of the- days. In town we breakfasted at eight, and
had tea at six; but now the daylight seemed to be several
hours longer, and an earlier breakfast and later tea required
our dinner to come at noon.  After dinner Robert brought
a large quantity of potatoes into the kitchen, saying, as he
did so: —
40 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
"Can you not help me a little, Harriet?"
" With pleasure."
"I want these potatoes cut, so that I can plant them."
" Plant them?  How can you?  The ground is still frozen
hard."
Without a word he went to the next room, and procuring a book opened it and pointed out a paragraph. I read it.
" So you intend to force potatoes."
" I mean to try something of the kind., I have no hotbed; but as it is nearly April, I am going to attempt
'forcing' by the aid of the sun alone."
"But can you do it?"
"I don't know. I can tir it, and find out."
"A good idea," said I, seizing a potato, and preparing to
cut it in two. 
"Wait a bit.  We don't know how to cut our potatoes
yet. Let us see what the books say on the subject."
"Precisely."
Then my husband read, as follows:  "'  Cut each root into two; three, or more pieces, according
to the size, minding, particularly, that each piece be furnished with one or more buds or eyes."'
In an hour I returned to my sewing, having finished the
potatoes.  During the greater part of the day, heavy teams,
loaded with manure, had been toiling through our gate and
s
41
-P 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
out upon the open field behind the house. After supper, I
asked Robert what he proposed to do with so much
material.
" Spread it on the land, andcl have it ploughed in as soon
as the spring opens."
" But will it not be a very expensive operation?"
" To  be sure.   But, then,'Nothing venture, nothing
have.'  I expect to spend three hundred dollars in manure
alone."
"Three hundred dollars?  Why, that is nearly half of
our whole capital!1"
"I lknlow, my dear. But, without this expenditure, we
can effect little oi' nothing." 
"That may be true, but how are we to buy horses,
ploughs, cultivators, carts, and all else to work with, if the
manure costs so much?"
" I propose to do without them.  We may come to own
a horse by and by; but it will not be for our farm-work."
"iHow, then, do you propose to cultivate your crops?"
"By  hand.  You remember our trip to New York?"
"Remember  it!  Shall we  ever  forget  it?   It was
our   ",
"And  do you recollect standing on  the deck of the
steamer, as we swept toward Hurl-Gate, in East River."
" Yes."
'42
IL 
OR,  WITII BRAINS, SIR.
"Well, you know I pointed out to you on the shore, near
the outer limits of the city, one of those little half-acre
market-gcardclens, filled solid with growing crops, the plants
standing so closely together that they fairly touched each
other, and hid the very ground from sight?"
Ohl! yes.  And  how beautiful they were with their
squares of different shades of green! And, do you remember, sir, the headache you had soon after, and how I had to
play nurse for the first time in my life?"
"Indeed, I do.  And a charming headache it was, or,
rather, nursing, I forget which. Now, I hope to conduct
our little farm as those Dutchmen do their gardens. I
mean to pack our crops so thickly on the land that there
will be no room for horse or plough.  In short, my plan is
to' farm by inches, and by hand."'
When I came downstairs the next rorning, I found my
husband very intently studying the boxes and pots of seeds
which he had placed behind the stove, and, on looking at
them, I found them covered with myriads of small green
plants just thrusting themselves through the soil.
"See, Hattie, what heat, moisture, and darkness have
done. They have forced these seeds to germinate in three
days.  But now we must move them into the light and air,
or we shall soon lose them." Upon which he took them all
up, and placed them near the window, in the sun, saying,
. 43 
FARMING BY INCHIIES;
"After breakfast, I must move them to the frames in the
yard."
"Well, Robert, pray tell me  how it happens that you
know so much about such things.   When  and where did
you study botany?"
"I will answer your question by asking you another.
I graduated at Harvard, did I not?"
" Yes."
" Well, that will account for everything."
After breakfast, the plants were removed to the now dry
and warm frames.  The soil in them had been worked over
and raked smooth, and looked very fine and nice. The
boxes of seeds were placed on the soil, under the glass, and
in one of the empty frames. IRobert now proceeded to plant
the potatoes I had cut up the day before. Opening a narrow trench with his hand, he packed the bits of potato, cutside down, as thickly as they could stand, just like herring
in a box, then another row, and so on. When it was
finished, the soil was smoothed over them, and they were
plentifully watered from a watering-pot Robert had bought
for the purpose. There were thirty-five rows, and eighteen
in a row, making in all seven hundred and thirty "sets,"
as the books called them. The few potatoes that remained
were carefully washed and - eaten. -
By this time the.weather had become warmer, and the
44 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
frost was out of the ground. The next day, the third of
April, was so mild and pleasant that I went out after
breakfast to see what was going on.  I found the entire field
behind the house dotted over with small black heaps of
manure, and two men at work spreading it thickly over the
ground. Seeing Robert over by the woods with a yoke
of oxen and a man holding a plougth, I went toward them
to watch their operations. Before going many steps I discovered the whole team approaching me. Taking a good
stand I waited to witness the procession. First came a
pair of sturdy oxen; then Robert, glorious in big, boots and
a mighty whip; next a huge plough tearing its way through
the soil; and lastly, Mr. Kempenfielder. Immensely entertained with the performance, I took out my handkerchief
and cheered them on. They never took the slightest notice
of me (at least Mr. K. and the oxen did not), but went sailing away and left me alone in the middle of the field.  I put
up my handkerchief, and started for home. But seeing them
soon at a stop, I turned toward them.
" Well, Robert Nelson, I never expected to see you
driving a pair of oxen."
" No more did I.  It is my first attempt.  Mr. Kempenfielder showed me how to drive them, and there you see
the result."
45 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"Tlhe straightest furrow I ever seen drawed," said Farmer
K.  "I don't see how he did it."
"My  army experience taught me that.  When  I was
Sergeant of Co.'F,' 190th Mass., I very quickly learned
to draw a straight line across an open field by simply'alligning,' two distant objects."  Taking out his watch Robert
looked at it and exclaimed, "Why, it's ten o'clock!  I had
no idea the sun was so high. Please, Hattie, go and look
at the lettuce-plants. If the thermometer in the frame
stands at 70~, or higher, lift up the back of the sash, and
put a stone or something else under it to let the surplus
heat out."
On going to the frame, I found the glass covered with
steam. Looking at the thermometer I found it at 90~, while
the plants seemed to be beaded with dew. LIifting up the
back of the sash I propped it up about an inch with a bit
of stick. Opening the sash where the potatoes were I found
everything steaming hot; butas Robert had said nlothing about
opening it, I let it remain as it was, and went into the
house.  At noon Robert came in and said I shouId have
aired the potatoes. The heat had wilted them badly. So
much for ignorance.  Hle also said I must go out at about
four o'clock, and let the sash down ag.ain to shut the heat
ill for the night; which I accordclingly did.
At six o'clock I went out to call-my husband in to sup
46 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
per. I found him near the barn talking with Mr. Kempenfielder, who was preparing to go home after his day's
work.
"It's a mighty heavy dressing you have put on your
land, Mr. Nelson. I never seen the like in my life. It
must have cost you a sight of money."
"It was a costly operation.  But an extra heavy dressing will give an extra heavy return, I suppose.  At any
rate, it will not be my fault if the land does not yield her
increase.  In addition to all this barn-manlure I shall put
on about a hundred dollars' worth of  superphosphates,
lime, ground bone, and giuano."
"A  hundred dollars' worth! why, man, you're crazy.
WVho ever heard of such a thing?"
"I have, -or, rather, I have read of it in the papers.  I
think I have seen somewhere that the gardeners around
New York sometimes put six hundred dollars' worth of
fertilizers on one acre of their land."
"Perhaps they do. Them that has money can afford to
throw it away in that fashion."
"I cannot positively say whether they can afford it or
not.  But I do know they keep throwing it away year after
year,  and  I  don't  iinmagine  they  do  it  for  amusemtlent. "     b
"I have heard tell of them fellows; but I don't believe
47 
FARMING BY INCHES;
mor'n half that's told of'em. One of them came and settled
round here a few years ago and tried sass-raising, just as
you proposed; but, then, he was a poor shote of a fellow, and
his farm soon drank him up, or he it, I don't remember exactly which.  Besides you have a kind of manure
which he did not have.  He used plenty of the barn-stuff,
but you seem to use more yet, and in addition put on to
your land a better manure still, - brains."
I
48 
-t
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
CHAPTER IV.
SEED-TIME.
Two days after this MIr. Kempenlfieldcler had completed
the ploughing and harrowing, and he and the laborers went
away. In their stead Robert hired a lad from the village to
work for us during the summer.  He  found a boardingp)lace near by, and was to be emploveled on our farm all and
every day, Sundays excepted. After tea, on the day the
ploughing was finished, we wallked out to inspect, and to
make up our minds where we should place our various crops.
Our land consisted of a single unbroken field, with the
house and barn placed near the road in the centre.  Directly
through the centre a path or road-way had been laid out
from the barn to the woods in the rear.  This gave easy
access to all parts of the place without wasting much space.
All the remainder of the land had been thickly spread with
manure and ploughed one way.  Then it had been crossploughed  in the opposite direction, and after beiuig harrowed  again  alnd  again the soil was reduced to a fine
level surface.  Little as we knew of such m-tetrs we  coull
not fail to notice the thorough manner in which the work
had been done.
49
a
0 
*
FARMING BY INCHES;
"What  other crops  than potatoes do you intend to
plant?"
"I hardly know as yet.  We must consult Washburn &
Co., and the books. I have thought a good deal about it
the past two days, and have been tempted to write to Washburn & Co. for advice.  For my own part I have no preference. Our only object is to raise such crops as will give us
the greatest money return.  If it pays best to raise radishes,
we will do so.  If we find more money in string-beans, we
will establish a monster beanery at once."
" For my part, I think it would be best to consult the
market-man. You hope to sell your crops to him, and he
can tell just what is most in demand."
"Good! HIarriet!  I'll go dclown and see him to-night, so
that we can order the seeds by to-morrow morning's mail.
Despatch is the word, - I'll go at once."
So saying, he went toward the house, and I saw no more of
him until nine o'clock.  The order for the seeds was written
and duly mailed early the next day.  Soon after breakfast it
began to rain. As little or nothing could be done out-of-doors,
Robert set our new boy - Jack by name - to work cleaiiiug
up the barn, and on returning to the house we both galve ourselves up to the study of our books.  Peadcling and talkiing
about our new profession filled up the entire morning.  After
dinner we again went at the books, and among other tllhings
50
.1 — w 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
we came to tile subject of transplanting, or removing growing plants fiom one place to another.
" lIust not those lettuce-plants be transplanted by and by?"
"Yes; they will have to be transplanted twice, if we may
believe the books.  Once into the frames, and after that from
the:ftames to the ground.  This would be a good day to do
it.  I wonder if I had better not do it this afternoon.  We
may not have another cloudy day for some time."
" What! go out in all this rain?"
" To be sure.  Why not?  I can put on an old suit that
the rain will not injure."
" It is not for the clothes I fear, but for you. The only resulit will be a severe cod, and perhaps a return of your illness.
" I do not fear that in the least. I will dress warm and
not stay out long. If I feel the slightest chill I will come
in at once."
Thereupon he put on an old hat and coat and went out
to get Jack to help him.  As for me I was very uneasy
at the whole proceeding; but my fears were groundless it
afterwards proved.  A  short time after this I went to the
kitchen  window to see if they had yet finished their undertakingi, aid I saw my husband and Jack gravely pl)anting out
the lettuce, and the rain pouring firom their clothes il little
streams.  Vexed at Robert's foolhardiness, I rapped on the
window and beckoned to himn to come in. All the reply I
o
4:
51 
FARMING BY INCHES;
got was a very wet smile and shake of the head.  Quite pro vokled at what seinemed mere folly, I returned to the dining room and sat down in no pleasant frame of mind.  Soon
after I heard him  come in and go upstairs.  In a few mo ments he came down fresh, cheerful, and dry.
"No  harm as yet, Hattie.  Nor  do I fear any,  We
planted both frames nearly full.  We  put them one inch
apart each way, which gives us about three thousand five
hundred plants.  It took only a small portion of our plants.
We have several thousand more in the boxes and pots."
To my surprise, no harm ever came of this venturesome pro ceedcling. In time I learned to see my husband go out in all
*weather with complacency.  Rain oishine, it made no differenlce; he never felt any ill effects from the exposure. Perhaps you will wonder at this.  The only'explanation I can
give is, that a warmly clad person at work in the open air is
too much occupied to stop to think about taking cold. Imag,inationl goes a great way sometimes.
That night, thanks to the promptitude of Washburn & Co.,
a large package of seeds came to us by express, and we spent
the evening in examining them, and in making ourselves
acquainted with their different methods of culture.
The following is a list of the contents of the package: —
Beans.             Cucumbers.             Turnips.
Beets.             Peas.
Cabbages.         RPadishes.
Is
52
0
4JO 
OR, WITIt  BRAINS, SIR.
Now it is impossible for me to give you a detailed account
of all our doings.  Sufficient is it to say that as soon as the
warm weather opened, about the 15th of April, we went
to work at our planting. I say we, for I was so much interested in all that was going on that I could not stay in the
house, but, putting on a short dress, I joined Robert and his
boy Jack in the field.  We had had several showers and the
soil was beaten clown hard by the rain.  At Jack's suggestion the ground was loosened with a hoe and then raked
smooth.
As I told you before, the farm was divided into two parts
by the narrow roadway or path. This path extended north
and south, and at the upper or northern end, next the
woods, our first planting operations were begun. The first
thing, we took was beans, - string or bush beans,- the early
yellow six weeks and early Mohawk.  These were the two
sorts we selected from Washburn & Co.'s catalogue. Jack
took the hoe and began to break up the soil; Robert taking
a rake went after him raking it all smooth, while I held the
seeds and performed the part of " the admiring spectator."
But this did not suit me. I could not be idle while others
worked; so, as soon as a slight furrow had been drawn with
the hoe, I began to drop the seeds about two inches apart, as
the books directed.
" Wait a bit; we must not forget the phosphates. Jack,
53 
FARMING BY INCHES;
get a wheelbarrow and bring one of those barrels that stand
in the barn."
Accordingly the superphosphate was brought and thinly
scattered in the furrow or drill. When about half way up
the first row I stopped.  A new idea had come to me.
" Are you sure, Robert, that you have placed these rows
in the right direction? Ought they to run north and south
parallel to the road, or east and west at right angles with
it?"
" I can't see that it makes any difference. The sun shines
down between the rows, and they do not shade each other, if
theyi are placed north and south. Howeyer, I suppose they
will grow as well one way as another."
"That is not what I was thinking of.  Suppose now your
beancry was all up and in bearing order, and you wanted to
gather a few bushels for market; will it not be very awkward to have to walk with a heavy basket half-way down
one end of the plantation, then turn at right-angles, and
go up betweec  the rows in order to get to the centre of the
field? You certainly cannot go stepping over the rows.
That would be still more awkward.  Now, it seems to me, if
the rows were placed the other way,  you could go to any
spot you wished by the most direct route."
"Harriet you are - a - well, you are everything that's
nice. Come, Jack, stop there. We will carry out her idea
54
o 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
and turn our plantation round end-ways.  Never mind the
beans that are planted."
So we began again. Jack prepared the ground, Robert put
ill thle fertilizer, and I placed the seed.  Aftelr planting several
rows I left them and went to the house to prepare dinner.  As
I passed the lettuce-frame I looked at it.  The youngo plants
were growing rapidly, and had stretched themselves up so
that they covered the soil from view.  Altogether it made a
very pretty sight, - green, fresh, and thrifty.  To  my surprise I found the potatoes had sprouted and were growing
finely. As I looked at them, I wondered lhow we were ever to
get them out.  Tlhey seemed to have quite grown  together.
WIhile I was settiing the table for dinner I happened to see
WashbLurn's "Guide" on the table.  " Let us see, -did I
not read something about bush beans there? Oh! I fear
we have made a mistake."  At that moment Robert came
in.
" What day of the month is this?"
" The sixteenth."
"Do you call this the middle of spring?"
I should say not.  It is early spring yet."
"Read this:' All varieties  of beans  are  very sensitive to the frost and cold, and should not be planted before
the middle of spring.'
WVithlout a word he laid down the book, and, taking up
55
0
40 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"Burr  on Vegetables," dived into  it with  the greatest
eagerness.  After turning over the leaves for a moment or
two he closed( the book and opened IMelahon's.
"What are you looking for," said I.
Some crop that will stand the frost and that can be
planted early  WVe  must be doing  something if we are
blocked at the outset.  If we ought not to plant beans, we
can try something else.  Ah!  I have it, -peas.  Come,
let us dine."
After dinner we went out to make a new start in the
planting business.  Marking off a large square having  an
area of about half an acre we began again.  Having planted
one row, Jack commenced to prepare another about three
feet firom the first.
' Hold  on, Jack, -that won't do.  We  must not waste
our land in that fashion.  MIake the rows nearer together."
Jack dissented firom this. " Nobody ever planted. nigher
than three feet.  Farmer Stamford, and Farmer So-and-so
never planted less than three feet."
Perhaps he is right," said I.
"Perhaps he is, and perhaps he is not. How much
manure does Farmer Stamford put on his land?"
"Oh!  a lot, - as  much as ten one-horse loads  to an
acre.
" Ten  loads  to  an  acre!  There  are fifty loads  here,
.9
5111)
11 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
besides the superphosphates and other fertilizers. You may
make the next row eighteen inches from the last. There
is my foot rule. We will measure the space off by
inches."
We worked hard till six o'clock, and had the satisfaction
of seeing our "pea-patch" nearly planted.  While at the
tea-table I was surprised to find the bread and butter disapparing very rapidly.
"Why, Robert, what is the matter? I never saw you eat
so much."
"Eat so much!  It is you that are doing the eating.  I
am quite ashamed to see that you have eaten so
heartily."
"Well, I was hungry."
"So was I."
Upon which we hadl a good laugh at each other.  Our
out-door work had  given  us both wonderful appetites.
"We are very unfashionable, my  dear."
" To be sure we are, but good health is unfashionable
also."
The next day was a real April day.  Clouds, sunshine,
and showers, delightfully mixed.   I did not venture out
myself.   Robert and the lad finished the peas before  we
had much rain, and at about tell, I heard them  at work
near the lettuce-framie.  Throwinlg on a waterproof I went
57 
FARIMING BY INCHIIES;
out to see what was going on.  Jack was holding a large
fiat basket, while  Robert was  carefully prying  up the
potato sets with a flat stickl.  He was obliged( to be very
careful, as the small shoots that had started from the eyes
were very tender and brittle.  At first many of them were
broken in hacndling; but he soon learnedl to dig them up
without injury.  When  the bottom  of  the basket  was
covered they started for the field, and I after them.  -First
the boy stirred up the soil, then my husband opened the
ground with his hands, scattered a little guano through the
soil, and taking one of the potato-plants carefully set it in
the ground, leaving the green tips just showing through the
soil. As for me, I carried the basket. In about two hours
we had finished the work, leaving the plants three feet
apart each way.
Several showers passed over while we were busy, but we
let'it rain.  For my own part, I rather liked it.  It was a
novel sensation to be out in the rain with no umbrella.
What would our city friends have said if they had seen us?
It is true, my dress became fearfully soiled; but it was an
old affair and could be easily washed.  Just as we were
going to dinner I looked back over the newly planted field.
It seemed very thinly occupied, and appeared wasteful as
far as space was concerned.
" Can we not grow somliething between the potatoes, Rob
58
0 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
ert? Is there not somethiing that will come to maturity
before these plants cover the ground?"
"Just what I was thinking of.  We  will consult the
books after dinner."
*  But the books did not help us, and we were thrown back
on our own resources.
" IIow would beets do?"
"Not at all. It would take so long for them to come to
maturity, that the two crops would crowd each other and
become mixed up in inextricable confusion."
" You don't understand me. I mean beets as beet-tops,
not as roots."
"11Oh! ah! I see what you mean.  Sow the seeds thickly
between the potatoes, and then pull them up and sell them
when the tops are young and tender.  Sell them for greens."
Precisely." 
" WVell, Harriet, all I can say is, that you will make a capital fIarmer if you keep on. Where did you acquire so much
brightntess?"
" Caulght it -just as one would the measles - from my
husband."
That evening we had a call from our neighbor,  Mrs.
Jones.  She proved to be a lady of good sense and educationl, and well acquainted with the best literature of the day.
WVe were both vastly entertained by her visit. She had
59 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
views of her own on all subjects of interest.  Art, music,
and politicswere familiar matters with her.  Among other
things we touched upon our farming operations.
" I have heard of your doings.  It has made a good deal
of talk in the village already.  They all seem to think you
will make a wretched failure of it. I tell them to wait. It
is not the first time a city-bred man has tried farming.
lIany have done so, and succeeded too, which is more than
can be said of some regular farmers. You intend to colnfine yourselves to garden crops, I hear."
" Yes. It is purely an experiment with us. We only
intend staving, for a few months, and while here we follow
the business of g(rarldening for a support."
" I am glad to hear it. I should really like to see some
such active young people as you are make the experiment,
and then give us the result. *Perhaps you could settle the
vexed question, Does farming pay?"
" If we fail in every other respect we can at least d6 that.
WVe can show by our books just what it does cost, and ascertain how much profit there is in it."
"I am glad to hear you say this. Farming, as carried
on about here, is a haphazard affair. Thley never seem to
know precisely where they do stand, whether they are making or losing money. Can I help you in any way? MIy
husband when he was alive was a skilled gardener, though
60 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
he did not follow it as a profession.  I wish he had.  He
might have lived to this day instead of grinding his years
away over his desk."
" Thank you, Mrs. Jones.  Doubtless you can help us.
For our own parts, we know little or nothing beyond what
we have acquired from books."
"Books! - what dlo you want more?  Books, withbrains,
and I fancy you can both furnish them, will accomplish anything.  I have quite a library of agricultural books.   I shall
be happy to loan them to you at any time."
" Thank you, we shall be delighted to avail ourselves of
your kindness."
That is right.  I sometimes fancy that books love to be
read by people who appreciate them.  Come and see me tomorrow evening, and I will place my whole library at your
disposal. It will be a pleasure to' see my books once more
in use."
The next day opened fair, but soon clouded over and remained so the rest of the day.  Ilobert at once took adclvantag(re of the shade afforded by the clouds to plant out the
lettuce-plants.  I did not assist him about it, but went out
once during the morning to see how they prospered.  As we
were determined to use every foot of  our land, it was
a matter of importance not to waste any by planting too
far apart.  To make sure of having the young lettuce-planlts
0
61 
FARMING BY INCTIES;
stand just twelve inches apart, Robert made a marker, as he
called it.' I called it "Nelson's Patent Lettuce-planter." It
was simply a ten-foot strip of board, having small pointed
woolen pegs fastened to it every twelve inches.  By holding
this over the soil and letting it fall, ten small holes were
made in the soft earth. Into these the roots of the plants
were dropped, and with a slight pressure of the fingers they
were fastened upright in the ground.  The planter was then
used again, andl so on.  After trying it a few times they
became quite expert, and when I came out to see them they
were setting out the plants at the rate of three a minute.
W]hen I again went out, to call Robert in to dinner, the
entire three thousand five hundred had been set out, and
they had begun again on the lot of plants that were still
growing in the pots and boxes.  But here they met with a
dimiculty.. The plants were growing so close together that
on pulling them apart they were found to be drawn up very
thin and weak.
"So much for not knowing that they should be planted
out in a frame to give them  more room, and make them
stocky.  They quite starved each otlher, and are valueless.
WVe are a long way behind our forty-three thlusand plants,
I-Iarriet."
"I know it; but can we not try again?  Can we not sow
more seedc, and transplant them before they are too old?"
62 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
" I do not know, I'm sure.  We can but try it."
After dinner, Robert prepared a new bed in the frame,
and sowed lettuce-seed  all over the soil.  This he did to
force the plants along, intending to plant them out in the
field as soon as they were large enough. About half-past
five I went out once more to inspect things. The frame had
again been planted with lettuce, and all the spare land between the young potato-plants had been raked over, and
beet-seel thinly scattered and raked in. I found the two
people at the farther end of the place preparing to make
another plantation.
"What do you propose to put here, Robert?"
Turnips."
"Why, I thought they were only useful as a late crop,planted in the fall for winter use."
" So they are; but do you not remember seeing small
bunches of white turnips in the market, at home, in
Junle?
"Yes; we used to pay a shliillin a bunch, and were glad
to get them at that price."
Just so; it is that shilling which has induced me to try
turnips as a spring crop."
A good idea; but, come, supper is ready."
As we walked slowly along the pathl toward the house
we passed the new lettuce plantation.
63
0 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
"Is that not a waste of room, Robert?  Can you not
grow soinethiing between those plants?"
"Now, Hattie, you are going too far.  That is carrying
thllings to a pretty fine point. There are only twelve inches
between the rows now.  In thirty days the lettuce-plants
will touch each other."
"Perhaps so; but is there not some small quick-growing
crop we could get off before the lettuce reaches that
point?"
"I am sure I cannot think of anything, and I doubt if
you can."
"Don't be so sure, sir. Wait till I can consult our
books."
On reachingl the house I examined " Burr on Vegetables."
After a short search, I found these words: "If space is
limiite(l, radishes may be sown with onions or lettuce."
64 
65
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
CHAPTER V.
WHAT  IT DID  COST.
THE following evening we called on our new friend and
neighbor. As we walked up the gravelled path, and approachedcl the little cottage where MIistress Comfort lived,
quiet strains from a reed organ, skilfully played, greeted
our ears. The door was opened for us by Comfort herself,
who looked and spoke a comfortable, cordial welcome. If
we had been surprised to hear the music in such an out-ofthe-way place, we were still more astonished and delighted
on entering the brightly lighted parlor.   A  two-banked
org(an, pictures, books, comfortable furniture, and a glorious
open wood-fire.  Could any city parlor furnish more?   knd
the lady of the house,- did she just step from a glass case,
or is this all a dream?
"You seem surprised."
"We are, madam.  We thought country people werewell- not like this- rural."
"You must have got your ideas of the country from the
opera,-pretty but ignorant shepherdesses, gay with ribbons;
or from story-books,- the men bowed down by labor, and
the women only capable of gossip an(d bad grammar."
0
0 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"For our own part we were ignorant.  Others told us that
on leaving the city we should bid farewell to all that makes
life endurable; that dwellers in the country never rose above
the clods in which they delved, or had an idea beyond cows
and such things.  If one may judge from the specimens the
country sometimes furnished the city, they were not so far
wroing."
"It is true, a portion of the agricultural community are so
weighed down by toil that they seem but little above their
own cattle; yet, for all that, you will find, in a given number of country people, just as much virtue, refinement, and
education as in the same number of city people in the same
circumstances in life; no more and no less. The only
difference I can see between the town and country is, that in
the country there are no very poor, no very rich.  Human
natlire is the same everywhere."
We had quite a lively debate on this point, after which
conversation branched off to other matters. A more delightful evening we never passed.  Our host exhibited her pictures, played for us, and lastly loaded us with books to take
home and examine at our leisure. As we rose to go, Robert
said:
"Please, 3Irs. Jones, may  I ask one more  question?
IIow happens it that you prefer living in this retired spot,
when your wealth and tastes would so naturally lead you to
0
66
0 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
the city, among all the advantages of concerts, lectures, and
society?"
"Simply because I am not wealthy. A little money goes
a great ways in the country. The cost of living would be
so much greater in the city that all my income would be
expended on my support; that is, such a support a# I
should desire. Here the cost is so much less that I can
indulge, as you see."
This set Robert thinking, and all the way home he was as
quiet as a mouse.  
The next dclay the plantingr was resumed, and by the first
of May all was finished, save the beans and cucumbers;
these we left until some time after.  Would you like to view
the result of my husband's labor? Come and see. The day
is mild and  brighlt, the  ground  dry and  clean.  Birds
sing in the air, and a green mist seems to float in the woods.
The grass by the roadside is bright and fresh. Far down
the valley the river sparkles in the sun, while the hills,
marked off in various patterns, show where the fields are
planted with varied crops, and every crop a different shade
of green; blue sky and flashing water; purple mists on
the far-away hills; a hundred shades of gren on every
hand, and over all a flood of light.  Now for details.  As
we go up the path extend(ing through our little farm, the
first thingly we see is a long, narrow bed, or border, reaching
67 
FARMING BY INCItES;
from the path to the fence. It is four feet wide, and one
hundred and seventy-five feet long.  Thickly dclotted over it
are thousands of delicate leaves just breaking through the
moist soil.  This is Robert's seed-bed.   The plants  are
cabbages.  By and by they will be carefully transplanted to
s(ote other place.  Next we come to a broad strip of land,
covered with solid ranks of peas, about three inches high,
~thrifty and vigorous.  Hiere are our thirty-five hundred
lettuce-plants growing rapidly, while between every  row
a narrow thread of green shows where our radish-plants are
hastening to maturity.  Beyond these is another and larger
lot of lettuce.  These are quite small, having been planted
later than the others.  There are about ten thousand little
plants dotted at equal distances over the ground.   The
same delicate thread of radish extends between the rows
of plants as in the other lot.  Here is our turnip-field looking( finely. The rows are very thickly filled with plants, but
Jack is busy thinning them out by hand.   He has two boys
to help him, for it is no small job. Every plant has to be
examined; the weak ones pulled out, and those that are to
remain left standing about four inches apart.  There is half
an acre of Plants, -at least twenty thousand.  If we get
half a cent apiece for the turnips, this little plantation will
yield us one hundred dollars; so you see, as far as Honey
is concerned, our farm already presents a cheerful aspect.
68 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
Beyond the turnips are the early potatoes, and among them
the reddish-green leaves of the beets are spreading over the
ground, and filling all the spare room. Lastly, is the empty
space where we began to plant the beans. They never came
up at all. On digging a few up to see what was the matter,
we found the seed quite mouldy and dead.  We had lost our
labor and the seed by planting too early.  The spring rains
having beaten the soil down hard, Robert and Mlr. Kermpenfielder are at work upon it with a horse and light plough.
MIr. Kempenfielder is leading the horse, and Robert holds
the plough. They have stopped to turn at the end of the
field.
" You have held a ploughl before, aint you?"
"Never touched one before," said Robert.
" You can't tell me that.  You hold it as if vou had done
so a year."
"Do I?  It is only because I imitated you as nearly as I
could.  This is my first lesson in ploughing."
"Then yout beat all I ever see.  MIy boy Tom took mor'n
a monthl to learn to plough."
"I-Iow so?  Was he not a bright boy?"
"Bright as a dollar; but somehlow lie never could seem
to give his mind to it. Ile was always a-reading books and
wanting to go to sea."
" Did you let him go?"
69 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
"Yes. It went aginl us, but his mother and me finally
give in, and hlie went. HIe never would have been contented
on the old place. lIe said it was too lonesome and there
was too much work about it. lIe wasn't far wrong there.
Farmring is dreadfiul hard work, and no mistake.  You'll find
it so, I reckon, before you get throulgh the summer."
"I have not found the labor very severe as yet; but then
my farming, is quite diifferent from yours.  Come, start up
your horse.  We have no time to lose;" and away they go,
horse, plough, and all.
In about anll hour the work was finished, and the whole team
canme slowly down the path, just as the factory whistle blew
long and loud for dinner.  As they passed the lettuce-beds
3Ir. Kempenfielder stopped and asked what they were.
"Lettuce and radishes."
"You don't say.  All them lettuce?  What can you do
with such all everlasting lot of them?"
I hope to sell them."
"And what do you expect to get?"
"A cent a head."
"Only a cent.  WVhy there aint more than eight or nine
hundred all told.  That won't bring you much."
"It would not be a great deal if there were but nine hundred.  According to my counting there are over thirteen
thousand plants in that lot."
70 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
" Thirteen thousand!  Why, at a cent that would be over
a hundred dollars. A hundred dollars off that pocket-handkerchief piece of land!"
" That is the way I figure it.  Besides the lettuce, I hope
to get a bushel or two of radishes off that same ground."
" Radishes! Where are they?  I don't see'em."
Right before you, between the lettuce-plants."
"What, them little thiings?  Lor! I thought they was
weeds.  Well, well, it's a kind of farming I could not follow.
I should have to wear my specs all the time to see the crops.
A hundred dollars off that place; but after all, it must have
cost a sight to raise'em."
" It did cost something, but not a hundred dollars by any
means."
Now, perhaps you, like ZIr. Kempenfieldcler, would really
like to know what it did cost,- how much money my husband
has sunk in our operation thus far.  Seeds have been bought,
manure has been spread with a lavish hand, and the labor
must have cost something.  I myself became a little uneasy
to see the money go so fast, and one evening, about the first
of June, we sat down to make an examination of our ledger.
Robert had not been so careless as to go blindly on spen(1ing
money without a thought.  I found he had the whole thing
* at his tong,ue's end and knew to a cent just where  we
stood.
71
I 
FARMING BY INCHES;
THE FARMI, Dr.,
To two hundred loads manure
"guano, ground bone, etc.
" ploughing.. 
" labor....
"two months'labor of boy
" seed....
"incidentals, tools, etc.
June 1.
.  $200 00
~ 100 00
.    15 00
.    10 00
.    50 00
..   10 00
.    15 00
$400 00
Four hundred dollars so far.  No return as yet.  In addition to this we must enter our support for that time, but we
will leave this till we come to the final summing up of our
affairs in October. My husband's labor should also be ad
ded to the cost of our farm; but that, too, we will defer for
the present. Whether we shall receive enough from the
place to pay him for his toil remains to be seen; however, the
prospect is cheerful.
0
72
41 
OR, WITlE BRAINS2 SIR.
CHAPTER VI.
OUR FIRST HARVEST.
WITH the advent of June came the first real, downright,
hard work, -  weeding.  It was a novel experience with us
city people, to discover the charmingly independent way the
weeds had of-coming up at all times and inll all places. Little did they care for our pet lettuce, or beloved radishes.
They (the weeds) came up seemingly in a night, and in the
very place they were least welcome.  In fact, they were not
welcome at all. As soon as they made their appearance we
went forth to receive them with all honors. Getting our
tools, we started out " like an army with banners" (hoes),
and made a vigorous attack on the first we met. They were
among the young cabbage-planlts in the seed-bed.  We very
cuickly found our hoes were quite useless here.  The only
thing to be done was to carefully pull them out from between
the plants.  After a while I was obliged to give it up and
beat a retreat to the house, leaving Robert and the boy to
finish the undertaking.  The labor was quite beyond me, requiringr more endurance than I could command.  Just before noon the seed-bed was finished.  At dinner-time Robert
came in, looking tired, flushed, and hot.- In a few moments
4
73 
FARMiING BY INCHES;
he was ready to come to the table, having washed and dressed
for dinner.  This is something he never omitted.  If he did
farm for a living, there was no occasion for his sinking the
gentlenan.  He did not follow the example of some of our
farming neighbors, and come to the table in his shirt-sleeves,
but maintained the same habits he acquired in the city.
Promiptly at one o'clock the work was resumed.  As soon as
I had finished clcaring away the table I went out to see how
they prospered.   To  my surprise I found tkem at work
alllong our newly planted beans.  I had supposed they would
take things in order.
" What induced you to skip over so many things, Robert?
WVhy did you not take the peas next?"
" Beans must not be hoed when: they are wet,-  makes
them rust. They are dry now."
"Who told you so much?"
" Books."  And he rapidly plied his hoe, throwing in the
words between the sharp ring of his tool, as it slid over the
ground, gently stirring the surface and setting the young
weeds adrift.  The sun was shining brightly, and the weeds
as they lay scattered about on the warm soil soon wilted
away in the heat.  Just where they were at work the soil
was fresh and brown beneath them, a few feet behind it
changed color, and a yard or two back it was quite dry and
dusty.  This to me. seemed very singular.  I did not know
74 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
that the soil would part with its moisture  so  quickly.
While thinking about this, a new idea came to me.  Is there
not a better'tool, and a quicker way of doing this work?
The hoe Robert is usingl is only six inches wide, and eack
stroklie tears up a strip of weeds the width of the blade.
Would not some other tool do the work as well, and in half
the time?  Without a word I went back to the barn, and
procured a light iron rake.  Selecting a spot where  the
weeds were pretty thick, though very small, I began to
draw the rake back and forth over the ground, as if for my
own amusement.  After going a rod or so I threw it down,
and went over to where Robert was at work, near the fence.
As I approached I discovered that Robert and the boy were
'not alone. Thlere was a man, a farmer apparently, and a
stranger, leaning on the fence and talki(ng with Robert.
" It must have cost you a sight to have fixed things up
a~ slick as you have here?"
"Certainly it did," said Robert, still swinging his hoe
atl talking at the same time.  " It has cost sevekal hundred
dollars already."
Several hundred dollars! You must have plenty of
stamps to be throwing( them away in that sort of way."
If I supposed I -was throwing money away, I would stop
at once, and not spelud another celnt."
" You'd better stop any way.  Farmin' never did pay,
75 
FARMING BY INCHES;
and I don't believe it ever will.  The more land a man has,
the poorer he is off."
"The first part of your proposition I doubt, the last part
can understand readily.  If I were obliged to cultivate a
hundred acres I would give up at once, and turn to some
other occupation."
" I've got two hundred on my place. Its the old Stamford
farm, next door.  3Iy father left it to me, and I've managed to
starve onl it all my life, and my children too,- that is, what's
left of them.  The boys ran away; the girls can't, so they
don't.  They is willing enough, I dare say.  Well, I don't
blame'em.  Farmiil' is a dog's life, and mighty poor pay,
unless perhaps a fellow has lots of capital."
"There is one kind of capital you have as mueh of aS
anybody."
" What's that?"
"Time! All the while you have been standing  there
leaning against the fence, doing nothing, I have hoed a
whlole row of beans, and have thereby added to their vae
at least fifty cents."
Finding the conversation becoming pointed I went back
to examine the result of my labor.  Just as I supposed, the
rake tore the weeds out of the groundl, and the sun quickly
kiilledl them.  I cannot see but that the.work is as well done
as with a hoe, and better in one respect.
76 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
" Robert, please come here and bring your hoe. If you
have a foot-rule, please measure the blade of your hoe, and
then measure my.rake."
"I have no rule, but can place them side by side and
compare the width of each."
Taking up the tools he laid them side by side.
" The rake-is more than twice as wide as the hoe; if the
hoe is six inches, the rake is more than twelve. I see what
you are aiming at, Harriet. You think the rake will do
twice as much work as the hoe; that every stroke will go
over a greater space, and consequently there will be a saving of time and labor.  A  good idea, but will it work?
Will it do  as well?  Can you kill the weeds by raking
them up?"
" Come and see."
" I declare, Hattie, that is a success.  How came you to
think of it?"
"Purte  inspiration.  Country living has  clarified  my
brain. I shall expect to shine-"  Looking up, I discovered that the man by the fence had
climbed over, and was standing near, with his hands in his
pockets, staring open-mouthed at our doings, and saying: —
"I swaney if she aint got a head-piece.  Who'd a-thought
it would work so? Every weed's killed. I don't believe
Sally or Jane would have done it."
7T 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
"IHallo, MIr. Stamford!" said Robert, " where  did you
come from?  I was afraid I had driven you off.  This is MIr.
Justin Stamfordcl, Harriet, our next neighbor through the
woods."
"Glad to see you, ma'am.  You is the first lady I ever see
that showed a spark of interest in farmin'."
I returrned the salutation as well as I could, being some
what amused at the queer mixing up of heads and rakes.
Taking up the rake, Robert went to work, raking the
weeds  instead of hoeing tbem, leaving me to entertain
MIr. Stamford.  This I was not inclined to do.   It was
nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, - high time all reasonable people should be about some regular employment. Yet
here was this man, idly stopping to talk; and talk he did, in
a straight line, till I could stand it no longer; so, as politely
as I could, I escaped to the lhotuse, much wondering at the
man's utter indifference to the value of timne.  Perhaps he
is a man of property and leisure, thought I.  He  don't
look. it, and he says he has a two-hundred-acro farm.
How is it possible he can have any leisure at this time
of the year and with such an estate?.
So the days sped away and the summer was at hand.
Our days were devoted to the farm, and our evenings  to
reading for profit or pleasure. We read all the agriceultural books we could obtain from our neighbor, Comfort,
73 
OR, WIt  -BRAINS,  SIR.
besides taking the " Cultivator anid Country  Gentleman,"
the "New  England Farmer," and other rural papers.  Inl
~these we found a vast fund of valuable information.  We
could not understandc it all at first, but after a while we
learned the meaning of the technical terms, and then it was
easy enough.  The only thing that troubled us seriously in
our reading, was the immense  number  of details  and
minute directions for doing things, and, what is miore,
every writer seemed to have a pet method of his own, and
gravely informed the reader that his way was the only one to
be followed. As we oftentimes found a dozen articles upon
a given subject, and all proposing a different style of doing
a thingi, it was somewhat embarrassing.
What shall we do, Robert?  One man says, do it my
way; another says, no, my way is the best; and a thir
ofi'ers still another plan.  They all say they leave each  1itheir own method, and succeeded also.  How can that boe?"
They are all more or less right.  There may be several
ways of performing some agricultural operation, and each
having some one point of advantage over the other. All
we can dlo is to select the method which seems the mnost
simple and the nearest to common sense."
IHere is a list of a few of the books ewe read:  " The Field and Gardenl Vegetables of America," by Fearing Burr; a useful and valuable book.
79
0 
FARIMING BY;NCIIES;
"The American Gardener's Calendar," by Bernard 3IcIahonl.  This had the operations of each  month placed
togcther,-  a great convenience.  The only trouble with thy
book  is that it attempts too much, and confuses  the
inovice.
"The Elements of Agriculture," by Geo. E. Waring;  a
scientific work, but plainly written, so that it can be understood 1), any one of ordinary education.
"The Chemistry of the Falm and Sea," by J. R. Nichols;
fulll of information, but, for all that, not a book which would
aid us greatly. We did not spend much time over
it.
"The Field-Book of MIanures; or, the American Mluck
Book;" by D. J. Browne, stuffed with information like a
chicken ready for dinner, and, like some stuffed meats, requiriingc brain-sauce and salt to go with it.
"A MIanual of Agriculture," by George B. Emerson, and
Charles L. Flint.  This we found to be a school-book; as we
were not above going to school, it helped us wonderfully
after we had found time to master it. During our first ex
perience at farming we gained but little from it, as it requiredl study to understand it all.
"Theli Anericail Homrne Garden," by Alexander Watson;
a useful and sensible book. Yet to read it one must have
somine knowlecdgoe of gardening bforerhalnd.  Not having, it,
.80
0 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
we could not avail ourselves of the book till some timeafter we began business as "sass farmers."
These all and many others we read as carefully as we could,
and gathered from them what help we needed.  At that time
HIenderson's" Gardening for Profit" was not published.  If
it had been, we could have saved ourselves many mistakes.
About the first of June Robert started off one morning
for the village, "to buy a team," as hlie said.  About noon
I heard some one drive into the yard, and on going to the
door I found Robert, with an animal,-a Vrse they called
it, ancient and bony.  Oa the creature's back was a light
harness, whole, but decidedly old.  Behind the beast was a
small open wagon with one seat.  If the horse looked old
the wagon seemed older still.
"How do you like my team, Harriet?  Lovely creature,
is he not?  His neck is not' clothed with the thunder,'
but it has a good collar on. The valley does not tremble
'when he paweth it;' and when he' smelleth the battle
afar' he don't say a word; yet he can drag a load of
potatoes, to say nothing of lettuce, and he'll do."'
"How can you talk so, Robert?  What did you buy such
an establishment for?  I am sure I shall never ride in such
a thing."
"It is not for our riding that I got it, but to carry our
crops to market.  The day of ourfrospgrity is approaching,
81
0 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
.and you can tell-any of our city friendls you write to that we
now keep  a horse - and  cart.  How much do you think
I paid for my team?"
"I am sure I don't know."
"Just fifty dollars for the wagon, horse, and harness.
It will carry our crops to market, and we can sell it when
we return to the city, if we ever do so."
"Do  you  think  there is  any  doubt  about  our return?"
"Yes; my hwlth is so much better since I have lived in
the open air that I am half inclined to stay out under tlie
sky for the rest of my dclays."
'"How about our support in that event?"
"That is a.question I imagine this rickety old wagon
will soon settle."
It did settle it in a measure the very next day.  Just
about daybreak  the next morning Robert started off to
market for the first time. He returned in time for a late
breakfast, and as he rose to go to his work he placed a
blank book and a small roll of bills in my hand, saying, as
he did so, " Our first sales, Hattie."
3 bushels of beet-tops, at  5c...... $2 25
12 doz. lettuce, 0c..............             6 00
6  "bunches of radishes, $100.........  6 00
1 bbl. ofpeas,.............    8 00
..22 25
8,) 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
Thlat eveningc Robert was late to tea, so I went out to
see why he did not come. I found him by the barn, with
a huge pile of radishes before him on a rude benchl.  He
and the boy were busy tying them up in bunches of ten
each.
"Slow work, is it not?" said I, taking up a few, and preparing to make up a bunclh myself.
"Yes, it is very slow.  At this rate we shall have to
hire more help soon in order to gather our crops.  The peas
are rapidly ripening, and the lettuce is all heading  up
at once."
"How would it do to employ girls about your picking?"
"I don't know. I never thought of it."
"It would be worth trying, at any rate."
" Do you think we could find any girls to work for us)
Jack?"';
"Can't say, sir.  Never  heard tell of such  a thing
before."
"Can you not ask Mr. Kempenfielder, or Mrs. Comfort?
PerLaps they could help us," said I, tying my bunch with a
piece of string.  Just then a new idea came to me:  Is
there not some better way of doing this?
"Would we not save time if we divided  the labor,
Robert?"
" IIowv so?"
83 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"Wllly, you make up a bunch, while I get the string and
tie it when you are ready."
"A goodl idea; only you must not use twine.  Take some
of that Russia matting soaking in the water-pail.  Twine
would cut the roots, and injure their looks and sale. The
matting is soft and easy to work with while it is wet. When
it becomes dry, it shrinks, and holds the bunch tightly in
place."
Robert then made up the bunches, and I tied, as he held
them.  By so doing, we got on twice as fast as before.
Still another idea, Robert.  Suppose, instead of your
flesh and blood fingers, we had some wooden ones."
Witlout waiting to even thank'me for the suggestion, he
dropped the radishes, and went into the barn, and I soon
heard him at work with hammer and nails.  In a few minutes hlie returned, bringing a small wooden rack, or frame,
looking like a reduced saw-horse.  Placing it on the bench,
he threw a few radishes into it and tied them up in an
instant.
"You place them, and I will tie them."
Soon we had quite a pile of bunches before us.
"Lend a hand, Jack.  Take them away and wash them,
while we tie them up."
At the sight of our imUproved method the lad opened his
eyes very wide', and said:
84 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
"See what larnin' will do.  Goodness! If I had- sich a
head-piece as that, I wouldn't be the poor devil I am."
Robert was up at daylight the next morning, as the team
was not quite ready for market.  Ie and Jack worked hard,
and at half-past five Robert drove out of the yard with his
wagon piled up with boxes and barrels. After breakfast
I entered the following in my accoulnt-book: -
20 doz. lettuce, at 50c.....
15 " bunces radishes, at 80c.
1 bbl. peas........
1 bush..beet-tops........
$10 00
'2 00
5 00
50
$27 50
After dinner we both walked over to neighbor K-empenfieldcler's, to see if we could get any helpers to work for us
on our place.   As we approached  the house, we caught
sight of a far from charming picture.  There stood Mr. K.
in his shirt-sleeves, and at his heels were three unruly children, screaming and making themselves generally disagreeable. At the windows were two girls, about ten and twelve
years old, while a boy was chopping wood near the door.
Two dogs, a cat with several kittens, seven cows and a calf,
also assisted in the tableau. The house, a large, old-fashiolned affair, wis flanked on one side by a huge barn, with
its door idly swinging in the wind, and on the other by a
rickety shed, filled with all sorts of carts, wagons, and tools
85
fb
...
...
...
-e 
FARMING BY INCHES;
in various stages of decay. All around the garden was a
low stone wall, dlecidcledly dilapidated, literally one stone
falling from another.  Though  the day was warm, every
window in the house was closed, and as we entered, it was
like going into a musty garret.  The lady of the house  fat
and forty,.if not fair, opened the door and ushered us into
the best, room, crowded with uncomfortable furniture placed
with mathematical precision about the room, and drawing,
up the curtain let in enough light to make things visible.
After the children had been quieted and sent out of the
room, Mrs. Kempenfieldler opened matters by remarking on
the weather and crops.  From this the conversation slid to
our doiTngs on our own little farm.
" We are very btusy just now picking peas," said my husbancl;  "we have so many, and as the price rules high, we
are in search of pickers."
Labor is plenty enouglh," replied Mrs. K.  ".3My husband had lots of it offered to him; but we don't keep but two
men. It is as much as your life is worth to get their pay
out of the place, to say nothing of anything more."
Indeed! I supposed you  kept at least ten or twelve
men on such a large farm as this."
"Ten or twelve men!  Lor, bless you, no!  Who could
stall' it?  Two's bad enough."
Just then, MIr. K. entered.  Hle had procured a coat, and
86 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
was plainly ill at ease in it, or in the room, I don't know
which. Evidently the parlor was for show and company.
" It is labor you are looking for, - is it? Plenty of it
round, such as it is, -Irishmen and Germans."
"We are not in want of menl at all. We want young(r
people,- would prefer girls."
Girls! girls to work on your place?"
"Certainly.  The work is light and not difficult."
" I never heard of such a thing before. Girls work on a
farm! - not much. It would kill'em right off. A girl or
woman might as well hold the moon as a plough. You nor I
will never see such a thing as a woman at work out-of-doors,
and, what is more, I hope we never shall.  Mly daughters
never will, at any rate."
" You know, sir, a great deal more about farming than I
Jo; but I cannot see what objection there can be if a girl or
woman assists about a farm, -  picking peas, tying up turnips, gathering strawberries, or any occupation requiring a
quick eye and ready angers.  There are hundreds of youig
girls, daughters of poor men, who would gladly earn something for their own support if they could know how, and
were not afraid of MIrs. Grundy."
" Who is MIrs. Grundy?"
"The old lady who lives next door, and always says
'They say,'" said I, comingi to the rescue.
87
lp 
FARMING BY INCHES;
"You don't mean Mrs. Stamford," saicdiMrs. K., firing up
suddenly.
" Oh, dear, no. Mrs. Grundy is not a woman at all, or
rather she is all women."
This puzzled her mighltily, and she relapsed into silence.
"Perhaps you are rilght, Mr. Nelson, yet I fear you will
not find what you want about here.  None of the  native
girls would come clown  to such work.   They'd  be glad
enough to get the money, but the working for it would stop
'em sure."
Finding we were to get no assistance, Robert turned the
conversation to other matters, and after a while we bade them
good-afternoon and walked on toward the next house, just
beyond the woods.
" What an unlovely home!"
" Yes, and what a life! It is not living at all; it is mere
existence."
"Vegetatinlg."
"Well  said, IIarriet.  Those  people haven't  an idea
above potatoes.  Oh, if that is farming, may I never be a
farmer! I don't wonder the son ran away."
"'But need farm life to be so sunk in toil and ignorance?"
"I am sure I do not know. Perhaps these people we are
coming to canll tell us. I suppose this must be the Stamford
88 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
place;" for we found ourselves standing befoie a small cottage house with a pretty flower-garden by the front door.
On either hand wide-spreading meadows lay warm and fair
in the afternoon sun, the breeze just stirring the tall grass
and waving grain. A noble great barn stood behind the
house, and everything betokened neatness, order; and substantial comfort.
"What a splendid farm! " said Robert.
"And what a charming home!
" Let us go in, by all means;" and we did.
Mr. Stamford was a-field, but his wife and two daughters
welcomed us kindly.  We  found them to be pleasant and
well-informed people, without a trace of rusticity.  This
surprised us, as we supposed, from what we had seen of MIr.
S., that his family would be oppressively rural. The true
explanation of  this came out  afterward.  Among  other
things mentioned during our visit was the matter of
"pickers."
" Just the thing!" exclaimed the elder of the young ladies.
"Wily should not girls work out-of-doors in the fresh air
and sunshine? I am sure I wish I could."
" Father would never let you, Jane," said the younger.
" He and mother attend to everything, and do not let us do
anythiing about the house or farm.  It is nottiing but mend
and sew, sew and mnend with us; or it is read, read, read,
89
40 
FARMING BY INCHIES;
all day long, till we have read every book and paper we can
find. I wish father would work less and read more, and let
us work more and read less."
"i Hush, Sally!" said Mrs. Stamford, reprovingly. "Your
father, as you well know, grants every reasonable wish you
have."
"Yes, mother, all. except the very reasonable desire for
some regular employment."
"I How can you talk so before Mr. and Mrs. Nelson?
Doubtless they quite agree with your father."
"To tell the plain truth," said Robert, "we do not agree
with him at all."
Fortunately, just  at this point, Mr. Stamford himself
entered the room, and the conversation was diverted to
other channels.  In a few minutes, however, it wandered
back again.
" Perhaps you could work girls on your place if you had
'em, but I dunno where you'd find'em."
"I would go in a minute if I were not -were not - so
far advanced in years," said Jane.
"So would I," said Sally.
"Come, girls, do talk sense or not at all," broke in Mr.
Stamford, testily.
Seeing rocks ahead, and fearing a wreck, Robert skilfilly
steered one side, and sailed away on another tack.
steered one side, and sailed away on another tack.
90
0 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
When we left Mr. Stamford's, we went home by the way
Qf Mrs. Jones'.  As we passed her house she beckoned us
in, and while there we mentioned the employment matter.
The idea seemed to strike her favorably, though she. confessed she could not help us about it. At last she brightened up, and said she saw a way out of our difficulties,advertise.
The next evening, the "Arenac Plaindealer" contained
the following:
"Wanted, at once, A few smart, active girls to work in a
market-g,,arden. The labor is light, and the pay reasonable. Apply to
"ROBIERT NELSON, Upper Road."
91
0
0 
FARMING BY INCHES;
CHAPTER VII.
OUR LEDGER.
THE next day but one we had a queer commentary on
3Iessrs.  Kempenfielder and  Stamford's ideas of female
labor, by finding twenty-one girls and sixteen boys paraded
in our yard, all eager to obtain the "Iight work, and reasonable pay." The boys we rejected at once. Why they
camne at all is more than I know; perhaps they were modest,
and thought they could do a girl's work. Selecting six of
the brightest-iooking girls, we dismissed the rest, and they
went back to the village sadly disappointed. Our six pickers were soon introduced to the " pea-patch," and, as we
were quite as ilgnorant as they as to the best method of picking peas, we let them help themselves about it.  However,
they were bright, and quickly learned that the true way
was for each to take a row, and pick clean as they went.
We paid them by the bushel, and thereby induced a lively
competition, which resulted in our mutual benefit.  After
they had gleaned the peas, Robert set them to work tying
up turnips, in bunches of four each.  Jack pulled the roots,
trimmed the tops, and brought them to the girls in the
92
0 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
barn, who, after tying them, washed and packed them in
boxes for market.
Robert took a full load to market the next morning. He
did not return as soon as usual.
"Had to find a market this morning, Harriet.  Our store
would not take my whole load, so I drove round to the other
stores; however, I sold out, and there is the account and
the money":
4 bbls. of peas, at $4 00.......        $16 00
25 doz. lettuce,' at 12c...........   3 00
6   "   bunches radishes, at 75c.....   4 50
20  "      "    turnips, at 37c.....        7 40
$30 90
The six girls we retained in our service several days, and
then, as the rush of work was over, discharged four of them,
keeping two for a while longer. The four who were sent
away  were  sorry  to  leave.   The  two  who  remained
worked rapidly and well, and seemed to enjoy their occupation. Part of the work would be considered by many very
dirty. Neither we nor the girls thought so. A pile of turnips covered with eartlh is not a lovely sight, and to handle
them seems very disagreeable; yet good common loam is
not dirty; it washes off easily and leaves neither stain nor
smell. I have tied up many a bundle of radishes and turnips,
93 
FARMIING BY INCIIES;
yet my hands will compare favorably with those of any lady 
in the land.
The two girls took.to their work kindly.  They even
offered to do that which we did not expect of them. They
perfectly gloriecld in pushing a rake over the ground after a
shower; and when it came to setting out the cabbage-plants,
after the peas were gone, they took hold of that, and beat
Robert and Jack in the quickliness and neatness with which
they set out the young plants. The girls stayed with us
about a month, and during that time gave entire satisfaction.  When they left us we found that they had improved
wonderfully in health and strength, and as they went away,
I could not help remarking that they were tw6o of the most
robust and hearty girls I had ever seen. To be sure, they
-ere very much sunburned, and rejoiced in freckles; but I
have yet to learn that a sun-tanned face is a disgrace, or
that freckles are a bar to happiness. So much for the girls;
now for the outside effect.
The fact of our employing female labor in our nmarketgarden produced a perfect uproar in the place. It set the
whole town by the ears; indeed, we did not know before
that two such quiet people as we could create such an excitement.  A few praised our actions, but the greater number of the people condemned  us in  unmeasured terms.
"The Arenac Plaindealer" approved of our doings, and
I
94 
OR, WITIH BRAINS,  SIR.
thought we had performed a good work, in showing a new
field for the labor of girls and women.  "The Arenac Bombarder" lectured us severely, and wrote  slashing articles
after the manner of those newspapers which are just a little
behind the age, and very conservative.. Nothing was too
bad to be said of our disgraceful proceedings.  "The reign
of fanaticism had begun. The radicals had invaded the
village. Society would soon be subverted, and the government overthrown." As for ourselves, we employed the
girls as loing as we wished, and discharged them when  it
was convenient, sublimely indifferent to the clamor around
us.
Want of time compels me to skip a portion of my story
It is-impossible to give all the details of our doings. You
have seen how we started, and after we were fairly under
way the work became in a measure uninteresting.  Not that
it lost interest to us, but that our days were passed very
much as I have described, and, therefore, an account of
them would be mere uninteresting repetition.
Three times a week our ancient horse, " Bonaparte" as
we called him, carried our crops to market.   Sometimes he
hadl a large load, and at other times a lilghter one, ax our
crops varied greatly in their time of ripening.  The largest
money return we received for a load was forty dollars, and
the smallest six dollars. As one crop ceased to produce
95
0 
FARMING BY INCHIIES;
anything it was pulled up, the ground again prepared, and
some other crop put in. In this way nearly all our land
bore two heavy crops dcluring the season.  If we had not
followed some such course we could not have obtained the
result we did.
One cool October afternoon, while the leaves were falling
from the trees, and a purple minist lay on the far-a.way hills,
I went out about sundown to see the flame and gold spread
over MIount Arenac, and to take a short walk over our
now nearly empty farm. All our crops have matured save
the fall cabbages and the cucumbers. All traces of the
others have disappeared, and the greater part of the field
presents about the same appearance that it did when we
came here six months ago. As I walked along I could not
fail to contrast the present time with those first days when
we came here, tired and half-sick, and started with doubtful steps in an untried field. Now we were both well,
strong, and contented; happy in each othler's company,
and in a position of comparative independence. We have
settled  the  question, -Farming  can  be  made  to pay.
Robert's health is now so well established that I suppose
we shall soon return to the city; -yet I shall'be sorry
to go.  Life is quiet, but very pleasant here.  We have
made many new  acquaintances.  Comfort, our friend and
neighbor, is a treasure in her way; the two Stamford girls
96 
OR, WITII BRAINS,  SIR.
are companions no one would despise, sensible, well
educated, and altogether charming.
And now we must leave them all, and many others
equally pleasant.  How I wvish we need not!  I wonder if
it is not possible to spend the winter here? If it were only
summer always we could support ourselves witl ease, and
could stay as long as we desired. I wonder if Robert
could not findl employment of some kind in the village for
a few months, and so bricldge ver the winter.  There he is,
standilng by tht gate, talking with 3Ir. KIempenlfielder.  I'll
go and ask him.  As I came up I found they were comparing notes on our crops,
',So your sass farm paid its way, did it?"
"Yes, it did more than that. It paid for the care of the
place, our support, and a little more."
"Well, well, it's mor'n I'd thought.  Did you sell all
your stuff? You had a mighty pile of it any way. I never
seen such crops raked off any land before. Specks it was
the manure that did it. Did you sell everything you
growved?"
Everything."
"What! them  cabbages  standing there?  Are  they
sold?"
"Yes, I sold them to the Railroad this morning. I suppose they use them among their laborers on the new branch.
97 
FARMIING BY INCIIES;
They offered five cents a head for the lot, and 1 took it at
once."
"Only five cents?  That aint much."
"Not  much for a single head;  but when it comes to
over six thousand heads it is quite a sum of money."
" Six  thousand  heads!  WVhy, that's  three  hundred
dollars for the lot."
" Exactly."
"Well, well, it do beat al, I ever heard tell.  I don't
wonder your farm paid its way."
Just then Jack came along and handed my husband two
letters. Robert opened one of them and began to read it
eagerly., While so occupied the sound of approaching
wheels broke on our ears, and a heavy travelling carriage
drawn by a pair of black horses trotted gayly past our gate.
I tried to discover who was in it, but there was such a cloud
of dust that I could see nothing at all.  Robert was more
fortunate. IIe evidently saw and recognized the occupants;
for, as the carriage swept by, he crushed the letter into his
pocket, and to my infinite astonishment started on the full
run after it, shouting, "Doctor! Doctor! hold on! hold
on!"
After a short run hlie caulght up with tlle carriage, and it
stopped. A brief parley was held, and to my still further
surprise the horses were turned round and the equipage came
98 
OR, WITHI BRAINS, SIR.
slowly back toward our gate.  Robert had got in, and was
talking excitedly  with the people inside, whoever  they
were.  Utterly forgettinlg Ir. Kempenefielder, I stepped into
the street to see who had arrived.  As the carriage drew up
to the gate, the door was thrown open, and out stepped our
friend and plhysicianl, - the doctor.
" Why, SIrs. Nelson! This is indeed  a surprise and  a
pleasure. I need not ask how you are.  I have _prinma facie
evidence of your health before my eyes.  And your husband
too.   I  did  not  know him;  he  is  altogether  a new
man."
Before I could answer a word Robert jumped out, and assisting a lady to alight brought her to me.
"Jtulia," said the doctor, " this is MIrs. Nelson, another
of my patients.  Mr. and MIrs. Nelsonl are the two young
people I told you about.  You remember I sent them into
the  country  last spring when  they'were   both  nearly
dead."
* "Indeed, doctor, I did not know I.was your patient before," said I, extending  my hand  to the pleasant little
woman before me. "I am gladcl to see you, madam.   Come
in, both of you."
"I-ere, here, Nelson, what are you doing with those
horses?"
Going to put.them in the barn."
99
4? 
FARMING BY INCHES;
" Oh! no; we can stop but a few moments."
"Cannot stop!  But you must.  Come, let nme put them
up while you stay to tea, or stay all night, or stay a week,
-which ever you like."
" Really, Nelson, we must not.  We have no time."
Now, doctor, just listen to me.  The last time I saw
you, you gave me a prescription.  I took it.  It saved my
life, as you see."
" Should say it did."
" Yes; and if you imagine I am going to let you pass my
door, and not come in and make us a visit, you are gloriously mistaken."
Thereupon he led the horses away toward the barn, leaving the doctor and his wife to me.  I at once took the cue
from my husband's actions, and literally dragged them into
the yard.
" Wait a bit, 3Irs. Nelson.  Don't be in such a hurry.
We must stop and see your view.  Come, Julia, let us sit
down on the door-step and admire. Is it not a lovely prospect?"
' Lovely does not express it.  It is grand."
Finding they were making themselves quite at home on
our door-step, I sat down myself beside them.  After gazing
about for a few moments, the dcloctor's wife broke silence t..Wlat W et  r:s that we see far dclown the valley?"
100 
OR, WITIH BRAINS, SIR.
"The Hoosensacken."
And the village?
"Arenac."
"And the flame-and-gold-colored mountain beyond?"
"MAt. Arenac."
" Well, it is lovely, -it is more than lovely, it is grand.
IIow is it you  happened to come  to such a charming
spot?"
"We not only came to the spot, but it came to us."
"How so?" asked the doctor.
Just then my husband came up.
" Here, Nelson, tell us all about this.  How did you happen to light on this charming place? WVhen did you find it,
and what have you been doing since I saw you last?"
"My uncle left it to us.  We came here last spring, and
have farmed it ever since."
You don't say!  I congratulate you; but I hope he left
you plenty of money to carry it on. Farming does not pay
as an investment."
*  "So I am told.  Uncle Jacob did leave us a little money,
but not enough to support us in idleness. We have both of
us worked hard, and have earned a fair reward."
"In health."
" Yes; and in money too."
"Really, you surprise me. But then, I knew you would
101 
FARMING BY INCHIES;
succeed in anything if you put your mind to it.  Come, tell
us more about it.  I am vastly interested."
So I will, after supper."
If there is any one thing I pride myself upon it is my
house-keeping,.  When it comes to getting up a supper, I
shine.  On this occasion I spread myself, and produced a
marvel of art in its way, - simple, as became  our rural
home, but very, very nice.  Our guests were dcelightedcl, and
did ample justice to my skill.  After tea Robert lighted a
great, roaring wood fire on the hearth, and we all drew up to
the cheerful blaze, for the evening was chilly. Tile doctor
and his wife were all impatience to hear about our doings
since our arrival in Arenac, and Robert soon gave them a
detailed account of all our adventures, very much as.I have
told you, since we left the city.
"Now, tell us about tile financial part.  You say you
mnade money by the operation.  Give us the figures.  They
may aid me if I am ever called upon to give any one the
same prescription I gave to you with such success."
Come, Harriet, get out your ledger.  You see, doctor,
my wife was the clerk of the establishment, and kept the
books."
The doctor's wife looked up surprised.
" Why did you do that?  I thought your husband was a
famous book-keeper."
1 09 
OR, WITTI BRAINS,  STR.
"To save time.  Iecould do it as well as he, and so leave
him free to work on the farm."
"A very sensible plan," said the doctor.
IHere we were startled by a knock at the door.  On opening it, I was surprised to find outr l neighbor, Comfort Jones,
on the step.
Here was a chance for a triumph, and I improved it. Our
visitors, no doubt, had the usual city ideas of country people.
Hlere was a pet sample of a country lady, and I paraded her
before their astonished eyes with an immense deal of satisfactionll.. They were captivated at once.  They had never
met a more charming old lady, they said, after she had
gone.  Robert offered a seat, and, after being introduced,
MIrs. Jones sat down with us before the fire, and our circle
was complete.
" We  were abourt giving our city-friends some account
of our doings since we turned market-gard(eners.  I suppose you have no objection to hearing it also."
"Objection!  Oh, no! nothing would afford me greater
pleasure. It is the very thing of all others I should like to
hear about.  I should like especially to hear if it is true
that you made money by your  farm.  Some seem to think
you did, and others say it is not possible to make anything
out of so small a place."
" The very point I was trying to get at," said the doctor.
103 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
So I got out my ledger, and Robert'opened it to read such
portions as would interest our company.
"In the first place," said he, " I will give you a list of
our crops, and what we received for each, and then I will
shlow you some of the bills.  You can then compare the
two, and see the result for yourselves.  The first thing we
triied was early peas.   We  planted half an acre of the
'Daniel O'Rourke' variety.  We sold ten barrels at five
dollars, and ten at four dollars each, which produced
just niniety dollars for the crop.  After they were gone we
cleaned up the ground and planted it with fall cabbages;
but I will tell you more about them soon."
"Plainted two crops on the same land?" asked the doc
tor.
".To be sure. That is the only way in which to make
money."
"Well, I never heard of that before."
"i t is the common practioe among our best market-gardcleners," said MIrs. Jones.
"But how can they do it?  Does it not exhaust the land
at a fearful rate?"
"So it would if they did not spend money on it at an
equally fearful rate."
"4That is just the point.  It costs so much to do these
things, I don't wonder it dloes not pay."
104 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
"Wait a moment, dcloctor. Let me read a few pages
more. Next we planted a half acre of' Early Flat Dutch
Turnips.' WVe laid out the money on the land in the form of
manure' at a fearful rate,' and the result was, to those who
had to pull and tie them for market, simply' fearful.'  I
never saw so many turnips in my life. There were upwards
of thlirty-five thousand roots.  They brought us an average
price of three quarters of a cent apiece, which amounted in
the aggregate to two hundred and seventy dollars."
"Only three quarters of a cent?" said Mrs. Doctor.
"Why, we have to pay a shilling a bunch in town, which
would be four cents apiece.  Somebody must make a profit
out of it, if you don't."
"Yes," said my husband, "the jobbers and retailers do
make a large profit out of it; but then they have all the risk
and we have none.  We sell at once, and for cash, whereas
they have to run all the risk of finding purchasers, or having
the goods spoil on their hands. The price paid to the
grower seems small, but he is insured, and the insurance is
worth something."
"Insurance is worth a great deal," said the doctor.
" Then we attempted to grow an acre of Tennisball and
Curled Silesia Lettuce, but could not compass it. WVe only
had thirteen thousand heads in all.  We received four cents
a head for the first thousand, which amounted to forty dol
105 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
lars, and two cents for the next two thousand, which gave
another forty dollars; lastly, we sold eight thlousand at one
cent each, which gave us eighty dollars more, making in all
one hundred and sixty dollars for our lettuce.  The rest we
lost thlrough ignorance.  We let them stand too long, and
they went to seed on our hanlds.  Among other things we
forced a lot of potatoes, and when the young plants were
well started, we planted them out one rainy day.  We  had
something over seven hundred hills; they came in early, and
brought a great price. The gross amount was one hundred
and ten dollars. To economize room we sowed seed of the
' New Perpetual Spinage Beets' between the potatoes, and
harvested sixteen  bushels of nice greens, which brought
about fifty cents a bushel, or eight dollars for the lot."
That was not a very large crop, Nelson."
" No; but you see we got it from land that otherwise would
have been idle; besides it only cost the labor and seed, which
I suppose amounted to about one dollar. That reminds me
of our radish speculation.  At  my  wife's suggestion we
planted radishes between the rows of lettuce."
"It was not my  idea,"  said I;  "I got it from the
books."
"A  very sensible plan, 1Irs. Nelson," said the doctor.
"A few books well read will put one well along on almost
any road."
106 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
"As far as I can discover," remarked Mrs. Jones, " they
got all their ideas from books."
" Oh! no, not all. If we had followed the books alone,
andl not used common sense and some out-door practice,
we should have failed miserably."
" And yet," said the doctor, " without book I fancy you
would  have  accomplished  but little.  It  was evidently
books, brains, and -"
" Yes; books, labor, and brains carried you through."
"Their case," said Mrs. Jones, " reminds me of Sir
Joshua Reynolds' apt reply when asked what he mixed his
colors with:' With brains, sir."'
" You flatter us, Mistress Comfort."
" Comfort! - What a pretty name!"
" Come, Julia, don't run off on a side-track. Let us stick
to the turnips and lettuce.  Now Nelson, we are ready to
hear more.  It is wonderfully interesting, -as good as a
novel."
" Better than most novels," remarked Comfort; " for it is
all real."
" Yes," said I, coming to the defence of the doctor's wife.
".Comfort is a nice name, and becomes the wearer, for she is
a dear, comfortable body as ever you met."
"Please, MIr. Nelson, give us more lettuce and some cucumbers.  I need something cool after that."
107 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
" You shall have it, M3rs. Jones.  We'll take up the cucuinbers next.  After the turnips were pulled upl, the ground
was covered with cucumbers. In order to do this we pulled
up a turnip or two every six feet, and planted a few cucumber-seeds in the empty space. By the time the turnips were
ripe the young vines were a foot long, and ready to spread
over the ground.  By so doing we lost a few turnips, but
gained three weeks in time, and made one crop overlap another.  The  squash-bugs  and other  destructive  insects
troubled us greatly; but we showered the vines every morning with wvood-ashes and plaster, and so fought the bugts off."
"Yes," said the doctor's wife; "but where did you find
out that plaster would keep off the insects?"
"Hlarriet read it in one of our agricultural papers,-' The
Country Gentleman,' I think.  Our  cucumbers  gave  us
more trouble than any other one crop.  Part of them we
sold fiesh, but the bulk of them went for pickles.  The
number of young cucumbers we had was something enormous,- seventy thousand, if I remember rightly.  The cash
return was one hundred and five dollars."
"But was it not a great job to gather them, Nelson?"
"It was, to be sure; but we employed girls to help us."
" Emplpyed girls!"
"Certainly. Tlhey made the very best of pickers and
helped us greatly."
108 
OR, WITH BRAINS,  SIR.
"And helped themselves too, to money, and health, which
is worth more than money."
"They did that, I can assure you.  They were perfect
little giants when they left us."
"It was a capital idea, Nelson.  I have  lots  of girls
among my patients who are always ailing slightly. A few
weeks of outdoor work on such a place as this would set
them up for life.  But, bless me, it would never do.  It is
not genteel to work."
"Just what the people about here said," remarked AIrs.
Jones.   "The mere fact that our friend employed a few
girls in his market-gardclen created a small tempest among
the villagers.  Tlhey, too, thlougcrht it not genteel, etc."
Great geese, all of them."
"Just my idea."
" Now, Nelson, go on, please.  Let us hear more."
"To have a variety, we planted a half acre of the' Early
Yellow Six-Weeks Beans.'  They did very well.  We  had
about  seventy-five bushels, which  brought   an  average
price of one dollar and twenty-five cents a bushel, which
netted us just one hundred dollars.  Lastly, we planted
cab:ages where the peas, beans, lettuce, and potatoes had
been growing, and, after allowing a liberal margin for those
that never came to maturity, we lharvested seven thousand
heads, and sold them all out in one lot for thlree hundred
109 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
and fifty dollars.  Wait a moment; there is one thing I did
not notice, radishes."
"Just what I was going to remind you of," said I. I
was proud of our radish speculation, and did not wish it
forgotten.
"We planted radishes between our lettuce, and pulled
and marketed it before the lettuce was incommnoded."
"That is carrying things to a pretty fine point, Nelson.
How much space did you have between the rows?"
"Twelve inches."
Only a foot?  I should call that farming by a footrule."
"Yes, ours was literally farming by inches.  We had a
very fair crop of radishes.  We packed up and sold one
hundred and five dozen  bunches.  They  brought about
seventy five cents a dozen bunches, or, in round nlumbers,
seventy-eilght dollars.  Here is a list of all our crops, and
the total amount received for them. It is from our balance sheet:
a.  *.* *..   $90 00
.urp.... 270 00
.etu..... 160 00
.et....           8 00
.ur.... 105 00
Ben........ 100 00
.110
Peas
Turnips.
Lettuce.
Beets..
Cucumbers
Beaus. 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
Potatoes 
Cabbages.
. Radishes 
. $110 00
. 350 00
~  78 00
$1,271 O0o"
" I'll warrant you
"Now for the cost," said the doctor.
it nearly came up to that."
Manure of all kinds                    
Labor of boy, six months 
"  2 girls, 30 days 
"   "  4 "    5  ".
"   "  men and boys.
Ploughing....
Seed....... 
Toois.....
Books......
Interest on estate, six months 
Taxes......
Team......
Support of family...
Manure of all kinds      $300 0oo
Lgab or   of b oy, six monthsa    150 00
" 2 girls, 30 days..    90 00
" "4  "    s"..            So, 00
on"men   an d boysite   t.     24 00
oPlouhinohn. yo..r32 00
"IkoitSeed   a. r  sm...       10 00
thedToo.lls  fo.   ou  labor;      15 00
Books......         3 00
Interest on estate, six months.    36 00
Taxes......          8 00
Team......    50 00
Support of family...   420 00
$1,168 00
" The grand  total of cost is, as you see, one thousand
one hundred ancl sixty-eight dollars."
"Just what- I told you.   I knew you would  make little
or nothliing by your farmr."
"I know it seems a very small profit, only one hundred
and three dollars for all our labor; but you must bear in
ill 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
mind that our farm supported us both and paid the above
profit. Now this is not the whole stry; there are two more
items to be entered.  You must  not think we sold our
entire crop, and denied ourselves everything.  We were not
so foolish as that, I can assure you; we supplied our own
table with the best our farm produced, and fairly revelled in
fresh vegetables. To the amount of our sales must be
added the value of the things used on our table. Then I
sold our old horse and wagon for forty dollars, as we have
no use for them in the winter.  The account then stands
somewhat in this wise:
Received for crops..
Vegetables used in house.
Sale of team...
$1,271 00
~ 110 00
.  40 00
$1,421 00
1,168 00
$253 00
" Our support and two hundred and fifty three dollars, -
a little more than ten per cent. on the capital used. Our
assets are as follows:   Real estate, twelve hundred dollars; furniture and etc., three hundred dollars; tools, ten
dollai's; cash in Saviugs Bank, fourteen hundred dollars.
Total, two thousand nine hundred and ten dollars. Debts
112
Expenses 
OR, WITHI BRAINS, SIR.
none. A very satisfactory statement it seems to
me."
"It may seem so to you, but for my part," said the
doctor's wife, "I think you two people had to work pretty
hard to earn the paltry sum of two hundred and fifty
dollars."
"You forget, Julia, that they had their support from it,
and made what is considered a fair profit, - ten per
cent."
"Is that not the average return on capital invested in
mercantile pursuits?" asked Comfort.
"Yes, most mqychants are satisfied with that,  and are
willing to run every risk to obtain it.  As far as I can
understand it, MIr. Nelson was almost free from risk.  His
position was a safe one, as it was independent.  No pressure
in the money-market could affect him, for as long as people
live they must eat.  His market was assured to him as long
as he chose to supply it. The only risks he does run are
those of climate and comnpetition."
"The first, doctor, all trades are liable to. The storm
that throws dclown my corn may sink another man's ship,
or blow over his tall chimney. As for the second, it would
be an advantage to have another good gardener next door.
We could help each other in various ways, and keep the
market more evenly supplied, and by selling cheap, create
113
0 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
a market where none existed before.  Besides all this, the
non-producers, as a class, far outnumber the producers, and
are likely to do so for a great many years to come. If our
village of Arenac continues to grow as rapidly as it does
now, ten years hence it will be a great manufacturing
centre; And then a dozen such market-gardens  as ours
could not furnish the material that would be required to
supply its market."
Just here MIrs. Jones rose, and, glancing at the clock,
said:  "Really, I must go.  It is nearly ten; quite time I was
on my way homne.  I am sure I am glad Ihappened in at'so
fortunate a moment.  The account of your doings  has
greatly pleased me. I can but congratulate you on your
success.  I always supposed you would manage to get a
living firom your farm, and am truly glad you have done so
much better than that."
Then she shookc us each by the hand and bade us goodni,ght. Robert offered to escort her home, but she declined,
as the night was not very dark, and the road short; however, we all thought he had better go, and hlie went.
" What a pleasant lady your neighbor is!  Have you any
more like her?"
" Oh, yes! some of our rural friends and neighbors are
very sensible, agreeable people."
114 
OR, WITII BRAINS, SIR.
" Well, MIrs. Nelson, all I can say is, I think your lines
have fallen in pleasant places. I am very glad your husband saw and stopped us as we passed your gate.  The
story of your experlience is one that will aid me, if I ever
have a patient inll the same position your husband was in
last spring.  What a changTe from your city home and life!
Viewing your husband's illness from this distance, and  ill
the light of its result, I am very glad he was sick."
"Really,  doctor, that is a new  view of sickness.  I
should not have been pleased to hear ypu give it last
winter."
"Very likely. We never know what is best for us. Our
blessings are generally disguised in some way."
"For my part," said the doctor's wife,'1 I fairly envy
you, Sirs. Nelson.  Such  a charming home!  You must
enjoy life in this little box of a house. It must be a pleasure to take care of such a neat little place.  Our great city
house and retinue of servants are all very fine at a distance,
but, as a home, yours is the best. You have no servants
and but little care.  We have plenty of both.  Henry Ward
Beeclher once said, that' A brown stone front was a means
of grace.'  Ile was more than half right."
"Besides," said the doctor,'" Ir. and MIrs. Nelson have
one other advantage over us city people; for they have
. 0
115 
FARMING BY INCHES;
proved that in their case, the old proverb is true, -'the
happiest people live in the smallest houses.'"
Soon after this I lightedcl a candle and conducted our
visitors to their room, as they had travelled a long distance
that day and were very tired. At the door I bade them
good-night.
116 
OR, WITH BRAINS, SIR.
CHAPTER VIII.
HEALTH, AS A FARM CROP.
CLOSING the door behind me, I procured a shawl, wrapped
it round me, and sat down by the fire to wait and to think.
Then I remembered how I had sat down just in this way
once before. There was no need now of gazing at the
embers in search of visions of the future.'The time for
dreaming had passed. A tangible reality was with me now,
or would be soon.  In a moment or two I heard it enter
and with firm steps approach my chair. It sat down by my
side, and then there were " four feet on a fender."
" A penny for your thoughts, Hattie."
"I was thinking of my dream."
" What dream?"
"The dream I had one night last winter, when I fell
asleep by the fire while watching by your sick room."
"Oh! I remember.  What a realization we have had of
it!"
"Yes, indeed. It is almost startling so truly has it come
to pass.  Surely'God has been a strong castle unto us.'
He has saved you from the grave, and restored your health
in a way that seems miraculous."
ill 
FARMING BY INCIIES;
"It seems so, but is not.  IIe helped us by showing  a
way in which we could help ourselves. He overstepped no
laws to benefit us, but simply aided us, by pointing a road
to health through obedience to sanitary laws."
"Well, any way, I am thankful."
" So am I, truly thankful. Thankful also that He has
kept us tog(ether for another season, and given us a reasonable expectation of many years in each other's company,leaving it a matter for ourselves to decide how long we shall
live, within crtain limits."
' How can that be?"
"You must admit that we )both have good constitutions
and are in perfect health at present."
" I Cdo."
"And you see how the carrying out of sanitary measures placed our exhausted and debilitated firames in their
present condition.  Now, it is but fair to suppose that if we
continue to follow the same sanitary rules, we can maintain
the high standard of health we now enjoy for an indefinite
time.  That is, DI. V., the Lord willing."
"Yes, but can we?  Can we stay here any longer?'The
harvest now is over, the summer days are gone,' and we are
not' savedl'- unless we stay here. What we cannot do."
Why not?
Because you must return to Farwell & Co.  We should
118 
OR) WITH BRAINS, SIR.
'quietly starve,' as you say, on the farm during the winter.
It is true we have plenty of money in the Savings Bank, but
we shall want it all to carry on our farming operations next
summer."
The only reply I got to this was the unrolling of a crum
pl    ed   piec e    of paper,- a letter it seemed:
" OFFICE OF THE ARENAC PRINT WORKS,
October 10th.
"MR. ROBERT NELSON.
"DEAR SIR: Your application for the vacant clerkship in our office
has been considered and accepted by the directors.  They have decided to give you a salary of one hundred dollars a month, with the
understanding that the engagement shall not continue over six
months.  At that time it is in contemplation to make some changes
in the affairs of the corporation; therefore it is impossible to make
any arrangements extending beyond that time.  Your desk will
be ready for you on and after the 15th inst.
"Respectfully yours,
"CHARLES   JOBSDN, Agent."
"Now, isn't that perfectly splendid? Just what we wanted.
Why, I almost want to kiss MIr. Dobsonl or Jobson, whoever
he is."
"'I would a great deal rather you would kiss somebody
else." I did.
119 
FARMIN(G BY INCIIES;
"Now, my dear, come close to me while I whisper a little
secret in your ear."
"IHow can I?  There is a limit to proximity."
"Did you know that our little farm produced one crop
that, in money value, far exceeds all the rest combined,- in
fact, a crop worth the sum of three thousand dollars?"
Three thousand dollars!"
"Exactly."
"Really, my dear, I do not understand you at all."
"Do you remember how many times I tried when we lived
in the city to get an insurance on my life?"
"Yes, I remember it with sorrow. No company was
foolish enough to risk its money on such a-precarious life
as yours."
Just here I felt a curious movement as if something was
being drlawn forth from somebodly's pocket.  Looking up, I
beheld before my astonished eyes a policy on my husband's
life for three thousand dollars.
"There, Hattie, is our latest and best farm crop, -my
health. The Arenac Mutual Insurance Company seem to
think it so far restored that they value it at the above sum.
It is in your favor. Allow me to present the policy to
you."
"0 Robert, Robert! This is too much happiness."  And
I kissed him, and kissed him, -but dear me, what am I
120 
OR, WITH BRAIYS, SIR.
saying?  I have quite forgotten myself.  This is a story
about radishes andcl lettuce, not sentiment.
On the 15thl of October, Robert  burst his  agricultural
shell, mountedl his hilgh stool, shook his quill inll the ink, and
was -a book-keeper.  As for me "I minclded the house."
About the midcdle-of the following February, it was given
out that the Print WAVorks had decided to build a new mill,
that would give employment to six hundred hands.  On
hearing this my husband at once resigned his clerkship, and
returned to the farm.  If the six hundred new hands and
their dependents came into the place, there would be at least
one thousand more mouths to be filled.  " Sass " would be
in demand.
WVe began our farm work for the second year on the first
of M1arch by putting down a number of hot-beds filled with
potato, tomato, cabbage, and lettuce-plants.  As we had a
larg,er capital to work with, our second year's sales exceedced the first.  WVe spread the manure thickler, ploughed
deeper, and cultivated still mole carefully.  The result was
an income of twenty-one hundred dollars, which paid a profit
of twelve per cent. on the investment.
The farm after this kept us fully employed all the year
round with the exception of a few weeks in the dead of win
ter.
The third year we started with a cash capital of eighteen
6
t
I
121
0 
5
FARMING BY INCHIES;
hundred dollars; fifteen hundred of this was expended for'
manure.  Perhaps you wonder at this.  Many people im ag,ine that one dressing is sufficient for several years.  This
is a great mistake. To compel the land to yield at the rate
above mentioned, fertilizers must be ploughed or harrowed
in every season, and in the most liberal quantities.  The
third year, at the suggestion of the market-man, we branched
out and tried our hand at strawberries.  We planted tialf an
acre, after pulling a crop of early cabbages.  It gave us one
thousand boxes of berries the next year, which the market man took at twenty cents a box, and would have taken
more if we had only had them. After the berries were gone,
the plants were ploughed up in time to lant dandelions for
the next spring. You see we made our land give us an in come at nearly all seasons of the year. Not an inch of the
soil was suffered to remain idle a day, and every inch had to
produce all that money, labor, and skill could wring out of
it. Our sales the third year almost touched three thousand
dollars, anId have remained thereabouts ever since.
I wish I could tell you more of our doings. Want of time
forbids a further extension of my story. MIy object in giv ing you this little sketch of our agricultural experience is to
show you, or some one else situated as we were, a safe and
profitable field where you can earn both health and bread, if
you are so inclined.
122 
OR, WITH  BRAINS, SIR.
Perhaps you reply, "This is all very fine, but is it
true?"
"Yes, in its main features this is a true story of. actual
experience.  The facts and figures I have given. you are
taken from accounts of bona-fide sales and expenditures
of a real market-garden. The originals of most of the char acters are still living in New England.
The question is often asked, Does farming pay?  This
is not a fair question.  Does any business pay?  Does boat building, or soap-making, or carpentry pay?  The question
is not, Does farming pay, but, Can you make it pay? This
is something I cannot answer, seeing I do not know you
personally. I know nothing of your education or capabilities. Some men with the requisite skill and capital would
make a fortune out of the manufacture of wooden clothespins. I could not. Whether you could or not is more than
I know. If you had a son you designed to put into mercantile life, you would not ask, Does it pay, but, Will my son
make a successful merchant?
More and more attention has been turned to farming of
late years.  Many are thinking of following the example of
myself and husband.  For them I have  but one word:
Be sure and farm
"WITH BRAINS, SIR."
123 
4
j ~;
*~~~~~~~~~i II~ 
I
11.
I
t.'
tI:
,,z -.,