52 MY TEN-ROD FARM; 



CHAPTER IV. 



TAKING STOCK. 



THE next morning opened with a dull, cold, easterly 

 storm. As I could do nothing out of doors, I spent the 

 morning at housework. After dinner I took pen and 

 paper to carry out my intention of taking an account of 

 stock. First, I made a list of the tools ; then, going to the 

 book-case, Itook down all the books I could find on the 

 subject of gardening ; these I also considered as tools and 

 aids in my new profession. The books had been purchased 

 by my husband at different times ; but, to tell the truth, 

 I had never examined them, not being interested in that 

 direction. The first book I took up was " The Fruit 

 Garden," by Mr. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. This did 

 not strike me as being anything of value to me in re- 

 gard to flowers ; yet perhaps the general principles of the 

 book might be. valuable; so I laid it aside for future ref- 

 erence. Then I opened "Country Life; a Hand-book 

 of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Landscape Gardening," 

 by R. Morris Copeland. This seemed to me to be just what 

 I wanted. I next found an old copy of " Breck's Book of 

 Flowers," and these, with Rand's " Flowers for the Parlor 

 and Garden," made up my library. I ought to include 



