278 FARMING BY INCHES; 



" Burr on Vegetables," dived into it with the greatest 

 eagerness. After turning over the leaves for a moment or 

 two he closed the book and opened McMahon's. 



"What are you looking for," said I. 



" Some crop that will stand the frost and that can be 

 planted early. We must be doing something if we are 

 blocked at the outset. If we ought not to plant beans, we 

 can try something else. Ah! I have it, peas. Come, 

 let us dine." 



After dinner we went out to make a new start in the 

 planting business. Marking off a large square having an 

 area of about half an acre we began again. Having planted 

 one row, Jack commenced to prepare another about three 

 feet from the first. 



"Hold on, Jack, that won't do. We must not waste 

 our land in that fashion. Make the rows nearer together." 



Jack dissented from this. " Nobody ever planted nigher 

 than three feet. Farmer Stamford, and Farmer So-and-so 

 never planted less than three feet." 



" Perhaps he is right," said I. 



" Perhaps he is, and perhaps he is not. How much 

 manure does Farmer Stamford put on his land ? " 



"Oh! a lot, as much as ten one-horse loads to an 

 acre." 



" Ten loads to an acre ! There are fifty loads here, 



