rows of earn on acre No. 2, the "intensive plot." This was the fourth crop on this land in one year 

 without fertilization. "There's miny a slip 'twixt the cup and lip," however, and county fairs claimed 

 our attention to such an extent during September that this fourth crop did but fairly well during the 

 six weeks' drju^ht of this fall. 



Th3 7th was "mide a purpose for us." Warm, west wind, overcast, just the day to make city 

 chainei man glad to hs in the country. Our guests arrived at noon; a short survey of the farm from 

 the house plot an J they sat down to dinner on the lawn by the fountain under the shade of our rescued 

 trees. I give you pictorially the msnu and I can assure you I never saw men enjoy a meal more. Ten 

 vegetables, all from the land they had been afraid to have us go into a few months before. 



If [ m ly take you with us again after dinner on a tour of the farm I will try to show you what 

 they beheld. 



The lawn more beautiful than ever, while oxalis in bloom about the trees, roses, sweet peas, and 

 coboevs, ani other vines clim'oing upon the fence, porch, and tower; gladiolus in clumps and the nastur- 

 tium root pile a blaze of gorgeous blossoms. Bulbous begonias in riotous bloom opposite the tank tower 

 and outdoor wash-stand where "root antlers" serve as a towel rack, past the house and Government 

 plot to the turn in the drive. Along the chicken yard fence rich red gladioli are in their prime, attract- 

 ing a flock of humming birds, while the vegetable flower garden shows scarlet runners, cardoon of tropi- 

 cal growth, and peppers that I doubt can be excelled anywhere, and borage, self-sown, in bloom of blue. 

 The sammsr radishes and lettuce are thriving remarkably, while corn is in tassel beside the cottages. 

 B33ts with their rich foliage, erratic onions (which, by the way, several were delighted to help 

 them33lv3s to) and cabbage. Let us pause here a moment. Mike had brought one in during dinner 

 measuring with its leavas still on, forty-two inches in diameter. The exclamation arose, "How did you 

 do it, Fulbrton? You certainly mast have set up nights with that fellow!" 



"Thsre are plenty m^re in the fiald," he replied, but they were hardly convinced. 

 Hire before us is a patch containing many of equal size, while the entire growth is way above the 

 average. 



"My g^oiness, how did you raise those melons?" broke from one of the party. "I never saw 

 such a set in my life. I'm coming out again when they're ripe." 



"The prophecy is they will not be sweet, because the soil is a little heavy," said the "show guide." 

 "But if there are any good I see our finish trying to pick and ship them." 

 "You'll have your hands full, all right," they replied. 



Potatoes, carrots, beans, peas, parsnips, cauliflower, salsify, sprouts, all on the way to the dairy, 

 called forth applause. 



"By jin^o, Fullerton, that's alfalfa, isn't it?" exclaimed one who is considered one of the best alfalfa 

 experts in the United States. "You don't mean to tell me you planted that this year." 

 "Yes, sir, the first day of June. What do you think of it?" the farmer asked. 

 "Think of it! Why it's the best I have ever seen, no matter of what age. Why, man alive, that's 

 here to stay and the bacteria are at work all right, all right." "Golly, this part," as we walked toward 

 the top dressed quarter, "knocks the stuffin' out of anything else I have ever seen. How did you do it?" 

 "Had the soil alkali," replied the book farmer," and we didn't guess about it either, we took a very 

 small piece of litmus paper and a handful of soil and found out." 



"Well, sir, you've done the best and biggest thing that has been done for the Eastern States in 

 many a year," replied another. 



Here to the left is teosinte, a new crop to some of them and one that called forth much admiration. 

 Its broad leaves, shortnese of stalk and luxuriant growth appealed to any map interested in silage. 

 And the millet, which had been a light green sea of beauty all the season was now shoulder high 

 and blossoming with a soft long brown "bull-rush-like" tassel. This field showed more plainly than 

 any other spot on the whole cleared acreage, where the bonfires had been; not only did it show the 

 effects of the ashes in height, but in density of color. 



The field of fodder corn calls for further exclamations. 



"Fullerton, that's the best corn I've seen this season," said one guest, who travels much in the 

 interest of agriculture. "What did you leave so many stalks to the hill for?" 



"This was planted for fodder, old man, but 'Pennsy millions' failed to buy us time enough to get 

 a silo up in which to put it, so I had to let it grow," answered the Senior Partner. 

 "That sorghum is no slouch either," replied another. 



"Gee whillicans!" exclaimed a third, "where did you get this?" as we came to the Virginia horse 

 tooth. "Man alive you must think this is Kentucky. How high do you suppose that is?" as he went 

 up to measure it. 



"A good twelve feet," said one, "you're a bean pole yourself and you look like an infant in there." 

 (Man language is often more forceful than complimentary). 



"What will that be when it's done? Why this is only early August, it has another good two months 

 yet," said a third. 



"We're hoping for sixteen feet and to be able to mature it," said I. 



"Well, you have a record now," was the reply, "no matter what happens to it in the future." 

 "Dynamiter Kissam is working here and he'll blow a few stumps and some trees for you if you 

 want." said the farmer. "There's a good big chestnut six feet through and he will blow it by battery." 

 "Oh, please mayn't I?" I exclaimed, and womanlike, I had my way. My but it was a "beauty 

 blow" (that's technical). She came out clean, and pieces went way over into the corn. 



"We're going to take out some of these pines, we want a few as shade apology for the cattle, but 

 these three extend too far east." 



"Are you ready, Charles?" he called. 



"Fire !" came the reply and 12 feet up into the air flew the tree, root and all, and falling split through 

 the center. 



"There you are," said the wise one, "land cleared and wood split all for 10 cents." 



46 



