1897.] ESSAYS. 41 



with good gardening as with a good sermon, it will bring out a thous- 

 and good things from the same old text. 



Third. Possibilities for certain Avomen. What a few have done, 

 and more could do. If I had not been entirely successful for the 

 past twelve years, in both the floral and vegetable departments of 

 horticulture, I could not have accepted this invitation to speak on 

 this broad subject, which has been occupying the minds of many 

 thoughtful men and women, all over the land, during the past few 

 years. This is somewhat due to the recent depression of business in 

 mercantile and professional life, which has caused much uneasiness 

 and dissatisfaction, and turned many minds toward the subject of 

 tilling the soil. 



You may wonder why I, a woman, should be engaged in this occu- 

 pation. For my own part I was forced into the business by circum- 

 stances ; but I have never regretted for a -raoment having entered it. 



A time came twelve years ago when it was a matter of selling my 

 pleasant home, or leaving the school I was teaching and taking care 

 of it myself. I could not bear the idea of seeing the place go into 

 other hands; and so in spite of discouragement of friends, I deter- 

 mined to try and manage it. 



My farm of sixty-eight acres is located in Holliston, Mass., on the 

 Boston «&; Albany Railroad, half way between Boston and Worcester, 

 well situated for market gardening. 



The land slopes gently to the southeast and northwest, so that I 

 can get two crops of early vegetables on the southeast slope, and 

 peach orchards, and later crops on the northwest. On first assuming 

 direction, I decided to go carefully the first year. The spring proved 

 late, the summer dry, a full crop of peaches, and a late fall, all of 

 which was in my favor, considering my soil and location. We soon 

 found that we did not raise vegetables enough to half supply our 

 demand, and the following year we raised more than ever, and have 

 steadily increased the size of the various crops ever since. At this 

 time my carnation house is receiving my attention, the forcing house 

 is well under way, and will supply some eight thousand feet of hot- 

 bed sash with tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, peppers, radishes and pan- 

 sies. I am much in favor of the cultivation of peaches. I believe 

 there is money in them. Large peach orchards can be seen on the 

 northwest slope of my farm, and among the younger trees small fruits 

 can be seen growing. I believe the first crop pays one for the outlay, 

 cost of trees, and labor in setting, and the second crop and all after 

 is clear gain. The kinds I have been most successful in growing 



