A LITTLE LAND 86 



AND A LIVING 



deserted. With modern methods they are now 

 coming into use again. 



The State Agricultural Department will tell 

 you a lot about climate and soils and general 

 prospects and prices, and sometimes even of 

 "abandoned farms," which you can sometimes 

 get for less than the mortgages on them, and 

 the United States Department at Washington 

 will furnish you a map giving the soil survey and 

 will tell you all about temperature and rainfall 

 of most districts. The Industrial Agents of the 

 Railroads will give you more points, but the big 

 Real Estate Agencies are the ones you must go 

 to for personal and particular directions. Find 

 out all you can by writing, and especially by talk- 

 ing to anyone whose knowledge or even opinion 

 is likely to be worth something. When you want 

 anything, the way to get it is to tell everyone 

 you meet what you want. 



Don't try to skimp by seeking sellers yourself, 

 so as to save the agent's commission; even a 

 poor agent knows far more about what is to be 

 sold and for how much, and what is cheap, than 

 you are likely to learn by days of travel and 



