THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



own observation combated ; drop the books, and 

 proceed to " thresh things out," as the Master 

 Man used to call amiable argument. 



Talking helped us to unravel lots of difficult 

 technical points, and did not interfere with 

 cooking some tidbit, gypsy fashion, in the wood 

 ashes, for the late supper which old Bohemian 

 habit made indispensable; so altogether there 

 was more homely enjoyment than real work 

 about our study hours. 



There were three wood-lots on the farm: the 

 largest and most valuable was the forty acres 

 of real old forest which joined or rather was 

 part of hundreds of acres known as the 

 "Green Woods." Next came twenty acres: 

 trees of all ages, dividing the Wilbur and 

 Earl homesteads. Last, thirty-two acres be- 

 hind the orchard; saplings and second growth. 

 Besides these were several clusters of nut- 

 trees, scattered about between meadows and 

 pastures, the majority of which had long since 

 passed their zenith, and were deteriorating in 

 value each year. 



297 



