Other Points in Wheat Culture. 219 



Before the rain was over my wheat was up and seemed to almost 

 cover the ground. It did not rain hard so as to pack it badly. 

 When I had time to think, I wondered why my neighbor had not 

 got his wheat in. I learned that he depended on hiring a drill, 

 and had to wait a day or two before he could get it, and the result 

 was wheat put in two weeks later too late, certainly. The 

 probabilities are that he lost enough to pay for a drill in this 

 single year. I am a business farmer. Have money to invest. 

 Am ready and anxious to invest in anything safe that promises a 

 large interest. A good drill ready to hitch right onto the moment 

 I want it is what I must have to always do my best in wheat cul- 

 ture, to put the wheat in when the conditions are just right. 

 Don't you see? Why, I know farmers who own not only a drill 

 in connection with a neighbor, but even a harrow. . I not only 

 must have my own, but I must have one for each team, to cut up 

 the ground in a hurry when it is just right. 



But now it is a fact that I made money when I did not have 

 as many tools, and that I had to get along without all I wanted 

 once. But as fast as I was able and saw that a tool would pay 

 me in the long run, I invested in it. It is just as much an in- 

 vestment as money in the savings bank, and pays better. I can 

 put my wheat in in twelve hours on a pinch, and all the rest of the 

 year that tool lies idle. But occasionally it is worth five times 

 interest and wear to have it right at hand. I think I lost enough 

 at different times before I got one to have paid entire cost. I 

 have had to farm that way sometimes, but do not propose to 

 when I can as well as not do better. Of course, if these tools 

 were not taken care of it would be a different matter. But of that 

 in another chapter. 



I have my own binder also . Worse and worse , you may think . 

 Well, you can do as you please, but 'I think I know what I am 

 about, and I have no tools to sell, and I paid $125 for the binder. 

 You will, perhaps, think something like this : " There is no need 

 of a man with only twelve acres of wheat owning a binder, surely, 

 even if he does a drill. It doesn't make any difference to a day 

 when wheat is cut, as it might when a crop was put in. He 

 might better hire a binder, or his wheat cut, most certainly." 

 Yes, I thought so, too, and tried it. You are right as far as you 

 go, considering the wheat only. But we raise potatoes, and you 

 must have noticed in previous chapters that it makes a difference 

 when they are cultivated. Let us suppose it to be about harvest 

 time. I have engaged a man to come with his binder and cut 

 my wheat. Tuesday afternoon it rains a nice shower. I get 

 word from the binder man that he will be here Wednesday to 

 begin. Wednesday morning it is just dry enough to go to culti- 

 vating when the binder comes. Of course, we must and do attend 

 to the wheat, we must take our turn or be out. It takes all our 

 regular force to set up the wheat nicely. There is some delay 



