181 MONEY AND 



TIME REQUIRED 



Two men could handle an acre with occasional 

 extra help. On new rich land it will take two to 

 three years to get fairly established. Worn out 

 land takes longer. Asparagus and rhubarb take 

 two years and bush fruits three, to become prof- 

 itable. So you should lease for not less than ten 

 years, or better, buy. 



Give one acre to vegetables, one to small fruits, 

 and one for buildings, poultry, cow and horse lot, 

 etc. An active man should clear a thousand dol- 

 lars a year, besides a good living, and be abso- 

 lutely independent, unless he is located where 

 some pirate can steal his profits. 



When the writer asserted some years ago that 

 he had known some " amateur farmers " to make 

 not farm wages, which are about eighteen dollars 

 per month and board (U. S. Department of Ag- 

 riculture) , but Trades Union wages, four dollars 

 for every day of work, the judicious smiled, and 

 the injudicious, including most of those who have 

 failed in farming themselves, and even some agri- 

 cultural editors, were tempted to scoff. 



They said: " If that be so, how is it that the 

 regular farmers can hardly make even one end 



