THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 81 



in it I have not seen, although I have seen much to cause surprise. 

 Water flowing out below came clear, no discoloration, and I was 

 told that it was of good drinking quality. Mr. Cole claims that the 

 land will become loose and friable as deep as the trenches. Per- 

 haps this is not overstated. I do not care to speak of claims, nor 

 of opinions not well supported. There is enough in the new sys- 

 tem to interest investigators. It is costly. "We were informed that 

 the work done by Mr. Cole had cost $500 an acre, but the improve- 

 ment may be great enough to justify that outlay. I suppose that 

 on an acre set to strawberries there may be 11,000 or 12,000 plants. 

 Now if each one of these produces a quart, the product will give 

 pretty fair interest on $5,000. It must be understood that such re- 

 markable berries as are produced under this system will sell for 

 more than ordinary prices. I want to make another visit later in 

 the season, when we have here the usual summed drought. If I 

 find everything fresh without appearance of drought on Mr. Cole's 

 improved land, I shall regard it as another strong proof of merit in 

 his system." 



In conclusion of our introductory or first chapter we beg leave 

 to answer the question asked by Prof. Lazenby by saying that 

 we never pot plants, but grow them, taking pains to catch them in 

 with a trowel, giving them good root. This is done in August and 

 September, and our plants are removed with the trowel quite as 

 often as with the spade, leaving an abundance of earth upon the 

 roots, and they grow right along, though set as late as October, or 

 even November. They grow indeed beneath the snows, and make 

 deep roots in winter. 



