THE GROOMING OF THE FA^M 101 



meadow, and the corner meadow, and the 

 hill orchard, and then there s the ten-acre lot 

 for corn and potatoes only I wish you 

 would n t plant potatoes.&quot; 



&quot; What s the matter with potatoes? &quot; 



&quot;Oh, I don t know. First, they are too neat 

 and green, and then they are all covered with 

 potato-bug powder, and then they wither up 

 and lie all around, and then they are dug, and 

 the field is a sight! Now, rye and corn! 

 They re lovely from beginning to end.&quot; 



Jonathan ruminated. &quot;I seem to see my 

 self expressing these ideas to Hiram,&quot; he re 

 marked dryly. 



&quot;I suppose it all comes down to the simple 

 question, What is the farm for?&quot; I said. 



&quot;I am afraid that is what Hiram would 

 think,&quot; said Jonathan. 



&quot;Never mind about Hiram,&quot; I said se 

 verely. &quot;Now really, away down deep, have 

 n t you yourself a sneaking desire for oh, 

 for crops, and for having things look ship 

 shape, as you call it? Now, have n t you?&quot; 



&quot;I wonder,&quot; said Jonathan, as though we 

 were talking about a third person. 



&quot;I don t wonder; I know. The trouble with 



