22 THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 



Genesee. In our farm barn yard manures had lain for years in huge 

 piles, from the bases of which ran off streams of liquid, dark as lye, 

 distributing and diffusing their influence over three or four acres 

 of alluvial lying between the barn and the river. In the track of 

 this current of inspiration to plant growth, stood a pine stump 

 with a breadth of top telling the story of one of those departed 

 giants of the forest, occasionally found in the wilderness of this 

 region at the commencement of the present century. That some 

 pioneer had attempted, years before, to grub out this stump, and 

 after making a good beginning, abandoned the undertaking, was 

 evidenced by the fact that on its upper side toward the barn, was 

 an excavation telling the tale of the undertaker. Into this hole 

 the liquids from the barn had been discharging for years, and 

 sinking below the surface their subterranean track was plainly 

 marked by a wealth of verdure the equal to which we had never 

 before seen. Immediately below the stump grew a most wonder- 

 ful blackberry bush, the canes at base averaging an inch in diam- 

 eter, and growing to a length of from twelve to fifteen feet. From 

 this one bush, our family picked nearly a bushel of native black- 

 berries, rivaling in beauty, and greatly superior in flavor to any 

 we had ever tasted. 



Here was evidence conclusive that to Mother Earth may at all 

 times safely be left the work of elaboration, combination, com- 

 pounding, mixing and mingling of ingredients necessary to the 

 germination, growth and development of plants. 



In Beers' Illustrated history of Allegany County, page 362, may 

 be found a picture of Basswood cottage, the home in the wilderness 

 where we made in reality, our first garden ; hence, what would 

 perhaps otherwise seem inappropiate, becomes fit and opportune, 

 and we make a quotation from the history, as follows : 



"Basswood Cottage, the home to which Mr. Cole and family had 



