IN DAKOTA. 117 
‘‘ Not necessarily. You could raise some crops on 
the sod that would pay quite well. You have a son, 
I believe. How old is he?” 
‘‘ Nearly twelve.” 
‘Well, a stout, active boy al twelve could do a 
great deal to add to your income.’ 
“ | have thought of trying to get him a position 3 in 
a store or office.” 
“He can do better than that I think, not only for 
the present, but for his future and yours.” 
“ May I ask how?” 
“ By helping in the cultivation of your land. Sup- 
pose that the first year you have thirty acres of sod 
broken. That would cost you ninety dollars. Your 
boy could drop potatoes in the furrows while the 
breaking was going on. Plant fifteen acres in pota- 
toes and fifteen in corn. I have seen a twelve year 
old boy handle a sod corn planter almost as well as a 
man, and if he knew that he had a small interest in 
the crop he would take pleasure and pride in doing 
the work. These crops need no cultivation after 
they are planted, though it pays to cut down with a 
sharp hoe any weeds and grass that may make their 
appearance, and to loosen the earth a little around the 
growing corn. Such work your boy could easily do.” 
“ But when the corn and potatoes were to be gath- 
ered—a boy could not do that?” 
‘‘No, you would need some help then, butit would 
not be very expensive. And the boy could help a 
good deal.” | 
