42 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



able as they could, then to milk the cows and 

 feed the hogs, and call it a day. 



While the others were unloading and getting 

 things into shape, I called Thompson off for a 

 talk. "Thompson," I said, "you are to have 

 the oversight of the work here for the present, 

 and I want you to have some idea of my general 

 plan. This experiment at farming is to last 

 years. We won't look for results until we are 

 ready to force them, but we are to get ready as 

 soon as possible. In the meantime, we will have 

 to do things in an awkward fashion, and not al- 

 ways for immediate effect. We must build the 

 factory before we can turn out the finished prod- 

 uct. The cows, for instance, must be cared for 

 until we can dispose of them to advantage. 

 Half of them, I fancy, are c robber cows,' not 

 worth their keep (if it costs anything to feed 

 them), and we will certainly not winter them. 

 Keep your eye on the herd, and be able to tell 

 me if any of them will pay. Milk them care- 

 fully, and use what milk, cream, and butter you 

 can, but don't waste useful time carting milk to 

 market feed it to the hogs rather. If a farmer 

 or a milkman will call for it, sell what you have 

 to spare for what he will give, and have done 

 with it quickly. You are to manage the hogs 

 on the same principle. Fatten those which are 

 ready for it, with anything you find on the place. 

 We will get rid of the whole bunch as soon as 

 possible. You see, I must first clear the ground 



