PAY AS YOU GO. 275 



as to swing either way ; this, quite often, is very convenient 

 in teaming, and also saves time. I have always kept a year's 

 stock of fuel on hand. I have a place under cover, where, 

 in bad weather, I can have it cut, and in this way work in 

 time that could not be as profitably spent otherwise. In 

 felling trees, not having much woodland, I select the poorly 

 shaped ones, leaving the best to grow. 



I do my trimming on fruit-trees, when I can, from May 

 20 to June 20 ; if not then, in the fall. Scrape all apple- 

 trees, and wash with strong soapsuds in the spring. In fact, 

 the variety of work that can be attended to at nearly all 

 seasons of the year is almost endless ; and if the amount of 

 time spent at the grocery-store, chimne} r -corner and other 

 places, talking about what a poor business farming is, and 

 what poor crops and poor season we have had, was passed 

 in improving their places, many farmers would have a more 

 productive farm, and more money in the bank, and we should 

 hear much less of the old story that farming does not pay. 

 A great loss, with some, is in not paying cash. I have made 

 it a rule for twenty years, even if I was obliged to hire the 

 cash, to keep some money in the bank, to be drawn out when 

 wanted. 



This I have found has always paid me a great per cent, 

 better than stocks. 



I run no grocery, butcher, or other bills ; for I cannot 

 afford it. I usually buy in large quantities, at wholesale 

 rates. I should hire the money at twelve per cent, and pay 

 cash, rather than get credited ; for I find, with the best of 

 clerks, errors will happen, but always in their favor. 



I have been a constant reader, have got a great deal of 

 information from agricultural books and papers, although, 

 in most instances, a person must use his own judgment, and 

 pick out and make use of the best of the information he 

 obtains in this way. I have hardly ever hired a man from 

 whom I could not learn something. I got my first idea of 

 under-draining from a Scotchman and an Irishman, they 

 having done the same kind of work in the old country. In 

 planting in drills, especially mangolds, turnips, &c, I first 

 got the idea from an Irishman in my employ ; although I 

 do not raise crops in that way, except pease, beans, and pota- 

 toes, unless I am short of manure. When I am thus short, I 



