40 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



expert in such matters, assured me were curiosities of mal- 

 formation and backwardness. My Irishman told me that 

 it was all for want of manure, and by his advice I bought 

 six dollars' worth of manure from a neighboring stable, and 

 had it spread over the ground. The bills for my garden 

 were meanwhile mounting up. I had begun the spring 

 with a garden ledger, keeping an accurate account of every 

 penny spent, and hoping to put on the other side of the page 

 a tremendous list of fine vegetables. The accounts are 

 before me now, and I presume that every one who has 

 been through the same experience has preserved some such 

 record." (Naturally, if he began that way.) ("Liberty 

 and a Living," by P. G. Hubert.) 



If your idea of farming is to bury " some seeds " in untilled 

 ground, regardless of suitability, and "wait till they come 

 up," you will wait in vain for a decent crop. 



Says Professor Roberts in the "Farmstead" (Macmillan), 

 "Mushrooms sell at fifty cents per pound; maize for one 

 half cent per pound. Why? Because anybody, even a 

 squaw, can raise maize, but only a specially skilled gardener 

 can succeed in mushroom culture." 



But enough has been said to show that you must cultivate 

 with brains. The Germans say, "What your head won't 

 do, your legs have to." 



"We'll have a little farm, 



A pig, a horse and cow, 

 And you will drive the wagon 

 While I drive the plow," 



is very pretty. The horse and the pigs are practical, if you 

 can take care of them yourself ; pigs are good farm catch-alls. 

 If you have to pay a man to do it, you had better hire your 

 horses and buy your pork. 



