116 TOM'’S EXPERIENCE 
“ Almost entirely in your getting a fair crop. If 
crops should prove a failure of course whatever you’ 
had invested in labor, seed, etc:, would be lost. If 
crops were not a failure, I mean if they produced as 
they generally do, yon would realize a return that 
would pay all your expenses and a handsome profit 
besides.” 
‘‘ Do crops often fail there?” 
‘There has been no failure, nor anything like it, . 
in the four years that Ihave lived there. Good farm- 
ing has invariably been rewarded with good crops. 
Of course some years they have been better than 
others, but always good.” 
‘“ But, not having a practical knowledge of farm- 
ing myself, how could I know whether the work on’ 
my land was properly done? Would I not be alto- 
gether at the mercy of unprincipled men who would: 
agree to do the work and then not do it well, and’ 
then, my crops not being properly put in would not 
yield well, and I would come out in debt?” 
‘There are some men who would take a dishonest ~ 
advantage of you in that way, but not many, and no 
doubt your friends would caution you against them, 
for they are generally pretty well known. I think © 
you would have no difficulty in getting trustworthy 
men to do all your work. And by close observation 
you would soon know yourself how the work ought’ 
to 3 done.” 7 | 
* But the first year it would bd all re walks no 
income, would it not?’ 
