HINDRANCES AND HELPS 



strangely, attack the most tranquil and self- 

 satisfied of men. The attack is a slight one, 

 of the orchard type. He consults far and near 

 in regard to the best sorts of fruit. He devotes 

 to the experiment one of his best lots, reserv- 

 ing the very best for his next year's patch of 

 potatoes. The land he reckons in "good 

 heart," since he has just taken off a heavy crop 

 of corn. He digs his holes, after an elaborate 

 system of garden measurement and stake-driv- 

 ing, which, to his poor, fagged brain, seems 

 the very climax of geometric endeavor. The 

 young trees are carefully staked, and for a 

 year or two show a thrifty look. But the 

 spring temptation to put a crop between the 

 roots is irresistible ; the ploughing oxen browse 

 a few — knock over a few — break off a few. This 

 maddens our friend into a "laying-down" of 

 the orchard to grass; he half promises him- 

 self, indeed, that he will give hand-cultivation 

 to the trees, — but he does not; his fever is 

 abating, and so is his orcharding. The mosses 

 fasten on the young trees, the borers play 

 havoc, the caterpillars strip them, the rank 

 grass strangles them. 



From beginning to end there has been no 

 business forecast of the requisite labor in- 

 volved, no method in its prosecution — no 



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