LOOKING BACKWARD 397 



form of business demands prompt, timely, and in- 

 telligent attention to make it yield its best. The 

 orchards have been my chief care for seven years ; 

 the spraying, mulching, and cultivation have been 

 done by the men, but I think I have spent one 

 whole year, during the past seven, among my 

 trees. Do I charge my orchards for this time ? 

 No ; for I have gotten as much good from the 

 trees as they have from me, and honors are easy. 

 A meditative man in his sixth lustrum can be 

 very happy with pruning-hook and shears among 

 his young trees. If he cannot, I am sincerely 

 sorry for him. 



I have not increased my plant during the past 

 four years. My stock consume a little more than 

 I can raise ; but there are certain things which 

 a farm will not produce, and there are other 

 things which one had best buy, thus letting others 

 work their own specialties. 



If I had more land, would I increase my 

 stock ? No, unless I had enough land to warrant 

 another plant. My feeding-grounds are filled to 

 their capacity from a sanitary point of view, 

 and it would be foolish to take risks for mod- 

 erate returns. If I had as much more land, I 

 would establish another factory ; but this would 

 double my business cares without adding one 

 item to my happiness. As it is, the farm gives 

 me enough to keep me keenly interested, and not 

 enough to tire or annoy me. So far as profits 

 go, it is entirely satisfactory. It feeds and shel- 



