PROFITABLE FARMING. 71 



There is no occupation so pleasant and independent as 

 that of the intelligent, successful farmer. Many do not 

 believe that independence can be reached upon the farm. 

 A distinguished United States Senator said to me on one 

 occasion, that he did not believe a comfortable living 

 could be realized at farming. The Senator, as well as all 

 who labor under such an impression, is mistaken, of 

 course. I can name a hundred farmers now, who are 

 decidedly successful at farming, who are accumulating 

 money year after year. I wish I eould feel at liberty to 

 give their names here, so that all doubting Thomases 

 might visit them and see for themselves. 



It is of the very greatest importance to know when and 

 how to plant. An intelligent gentleman once called 

 upon me for some southern stock peas, or field peas, say- 

 ing he wished to plant them for the purpose of enriching 

 his land. It was during February that he purchased the 

 peas, as near as my memory serves me, I presume he was 

 making his purchase thus early in order to have them at 

 home in readiness to plant when the time came. Much 

 to my amusement and surprise, he came in after three or 

 four weeks, complaining that the frost had destroyed his 

 crop of peas. I had a good laugh at my friend's expense. 

 He had presumed that because the garden, or English peas, 

 were perfectly hardy, therefore all other peas were equally 

 so. This book would have saved him many times its cost 

 in that one instance. 



