FAKM ECHOES. 41 



blade of grass. Again and again I walked over that deso- 

 late field hoping to devise some means to " subdue " it, 

 and make it profitable, but each time came to the con- 

 clusion that it was an elephant on my hands, one that 

 had not yet been mastered. Though measuring about 

 nine and a half acres, it was simply worthless. The 

 taxes upon it must be paid annually, and what could I 

 do with it ? Should I give it away ? I would be richer 

 without it than with it. I did not like the idea of giv- 

 ing away what I had just paid for, nor could I see any 

 generosity in presenting to a neighbor such a piece of 

 property. 



As I met the more thrifty and successful farmers, I 

 asked their opinions as to what was best to be done with 

 that field. They all knew it well, but no two gave the 

 same advice. This seemed very strange and was the first 

 thing to inspire me with confidence in my own judgment 

 in farming matters. Here were four intelligent farmers, 

 all having years of experience, and yet no two of them 

 would treat that field in the same way ! What an odd 

 field it would be, thought I, if handled in all the four 

 different ways recommended. 



After giving the matter the requisite attention, I re- 

 solved to branch out on my own account. Something 

 must be done and promptly done if that wretched field 

 was to be put into a paying condition. 



The opinions of all the four farmers were collected as 

 best they could be, and carefully weighed in the scale of 

 common sense. Ideas were here and there culled out of 

 this confused mass, and coupled with some that were 

 original. Having thus gathered sufficient material to 



