EXPENSES. 119 



verization of the soil. It is almost impossible 

 tc dig ground full of cobble-stones, as mine is, 

 sufficiently deep, and it is wholly so to find a 

 man who will do it. But the first dry spell of 

 summer will show you the folly of shallow cul- 

 tivation. 



Thomas stays with me throughout the year, 

 and his wages in '71 amounted to two hundred 

 and eighty-nine dollars and twenty-four cents. 

 It is true that I could dispense with his services 

 three months out of the year, but it would be 

 very poor policy to lose a good gardener to 

 make this small saving. Charlie, who kept the 

 books, looked after the sales, picking of fruit, 

 etc., was with me that season five months and a 

 half, and he was paid one hundred and forty- 

 eight dollars and fifty cents. I also engaged a 

 general assistant at one dollar and fifty cents per 

 day, and one hundred and fifty-four dollars and 

 torty-five cents sum up his receipts. In addi- 



