THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



kept in the orchard. Colony houses, being 

 only 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, were very 

 light, having no floors, so easily moved to a 

 fresh place every few days. By such means 

 the orchard was evenly fertilized and coops 

 kept clean. 



The future care of the orchard consisted 

 in rubbing off suckers as soon as they made 

 their appearance, moderate pruning in the 

 main growth, to let in sun and air, and liberal 

 spraying. 



The second season of such management the 

 same dealer called in August, and offered to 

 give $200 down for the crop, taking all risk 

 of what might happen before gathering time, 

 and, of course, doing the picking and packing 

 as before. Wanting the money, and having 

 more work than it seemed possible for Sidney 

 and his father (who had just been engaged) 

 to manage, I accepted the offer. Since then, 

 having the necessary help, and a good clientele 

 of private customers, we handle the fruit our- 

 selves, and have never cleared less than $108 



137 



