THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 23 



retreated, represented in accompanying engraving, was a log cabin 

 in the pine woods, and is thus pictured by the graphic pen of the 

 since widely known journalist, in one of his easy chair letters, 

 appearing in the Elmira Advertiser, under date of February 24th, 

 1875." 



" The spot chosen for our dwelling place was as wild, sylvan and 

 rustic as any to be found amid the forests primeval of Allegany Co., 

 N. Y. Our house was one built of logs, unhewn, but not rudely so, or 

 without architectural pretentions in an humble way a neat cottage 

 with wings, portico in front, over which ran climbing roses, while 

 ivies twined, and morning glories in sinuous wanderings and wind- 

 ings found their way to the roof of the cottage. Flowers bloomed 

 in the dooryard, planted, cared for and watered by the ever busy 

 hand of 'Mi's. Easy Chair.' In the rear of the house was a lofty 

 hill quite like to a mountain, from the base to the brow of which 

 rose up tall pines, oaks, maples, beeches, birches and basswoods, 

 whose shadows fell upon us daily, as the sun went down before its 

 time in the west. In the front and to the north was a carpet of 

 greensward, partially shaded by beautiful trees, planted by nature's 

 plastic hand, and scattered here and there were maples of second 

 growth with spreading branches. On the left was a garden, where 

 was early cultivated that taste for horticulture since grown to be a 

 passion." 



Yes, dear reader, it was here, amid the shadows of the forest, we 

 made our first garden. The spot was a pocket of alluvial, rich, 

 deep and dark, less than an half acre, created by drift from the 

 mountain side above, pure vegetable mold ; no spot could have 

 well been richer in soil, or more naturally productive. Here were 

 grown such potatoes, peas, beans, cabbages, turnips and other 

 garden vegetables, as we have never seen until the adoption of our 

 present system of culture. 



