PRELIMINARY PARLEY. 21 



dence of the "solid men," who want no "gush" or side 

 sentiment, even though nature suggests some warrant for it, 

 I will give a bit of personal experience. Five years since, 

 I bought a farm of twenty-three acres that for several years 

 had been rented, depleted, and suffered to run wild. Thick- 

 ets of brush-wood extended from the fences well into the 

 fields, and in a notable instance across the entire place. 

 One portion was so stony that it could not be plowed ; an- 

 other so wet and sour that even grass would not grow upon 

 it ; a third portion was not only swampy, but liable to be 

 overwhelmed with stones and gravel twice a year by the 

 sudden rising of a mountain stream. There was no fruit on 

 the place except apples and a very few pears and grapes. 

 Nearly all of the land, as I found it, was too impoverished 

 to produce a decent crop of strawberries. The location 

 of the place, moreover, made it very expensive, — it cost 

 ^19,000; and yet during the third year of occupancy the 

 income from this place approached very nearly to the out- 

 lay, and in 1878, during which my most expensive improve- 

 ments were made, in the way of draining, taking out stones, 

 etc., the income paid for these improvements, for current 

 expenses, and gave a surplus of over $1,800. In 1879, the 

 net income was considerably larger. In order that these 

 statements may not mislead any one, I will add that in my 

 judgment only the combined business of plants and fruit 

 would warrant such expenses as I have incurred. My farm 

 is almost in the midst of a village, and the buildings upon it 

 greatly increased its cost. Those who propose to raise and 

 sell fruit only should not burden themselves with high- 

 priced land. Farms, even on the Hudson, can be bought 

 at quite moderate prices at a mile or more away from 

 centres, and yet within easy reach of landings and railroad 

 depots. 



