Our "Biggest Girl" and Japan's Biggest Radish 



Autu 



mn 



THE first of September saw the children and myself off to Pennsylvania for a few days. They 

 had been , "good as pie" all summer and often when father and mother were too burdened to 

 be pleasant they had had dull times. Rides were their great joy and they always went to the 

 depot with shipments; but companionship of their age was lacking and it was time they had a 

 'vacation." Such a glorious one they had with a bunch of cousins; pillow fights, early morning squeals, 

 romps, and picnics. 



With the aid of records kept at various times by the stenographer, Mike, Walter, and Martha 

 (Mike's eldest daughter}, I give you the fall work. 



Sunday, the 2d, records the picking of the first melon, a Long Island beauty. The Italians were 

 pressed into service more now, for John's going left a hole in the force. Tomatoes were coming thicker 

 than ever and I remember asking Mike on my return from a day's visit: 



"Any tomatoes yet, Mike?" 



"My gah, yes. Miss Fuller', we ship 41 crates this morning." 



"Forty-one crates! Goodness, that must have been some tomatoes, how many culls?" 



"Eight bushel, I give 'em to section hands and train crews, they like 'em," he answered. 



No wonder the diary records "two Italians picking tomatoes one-half day." 



Sugar corn that had been gathered was cut and stacked and the land prepared for a legume. Barrels 

 had to be unloaded and stacked, for we still had hopes of gathering some cabbage and cauliflower, while 

 sweet potatoes held out the promise of an abundant yield. 



More endive was ready for shipment on the 6th and the diary records: "Washed and picked 6 

 barrels of cabbage, 11 bushels of endive, also some carrots and beets." 



Tony showing the greatest aptitude for market-gardening, was given the more particular work and 

 he soon took John's place in helping Mike with the packing. Walter, the boy, had become quite pro- 

 ficient in many ways, and for a lad of 14 shows good signs of a budding farmer. 



On the 6th the Assistant United States Agrostologist visited the farm to see the alfalfa. As a 

 test had been made for the Government at their special request, they were naturally much interested. 



•■His verdict coincided with others already given and he further said upon examining the roots and 

 seeing the nitrogen nodules, that Long Island virgin soil must contain the needed bacteria, for the largest 

 nodules found were on the uninoculated section. That the bacteria was at home and at work in all 

 sections he felt was true without a doubt, and he further predicted that "next year you will not be able 

 to tell one quarter from another." 



The 10th records the shipment of 5 crates of melons, and from that time on we could not compete 

 with the field, the yield was too great. The prophecy held for them came true, they were not as sweet 



