286 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
«That’s just it; if a man will use his head, 
any business will go, — farming or making hats. 
It’s the gray matter that counts, and the fellow 
that puts a little more of it into his business 
than his neighbor does, is the one who’ll get on.” 
« But farming is different; so much seems to 
depend upon winds and rains and frosts and 
accidents of all sorts that are out of one’s line.” 
« Not so much as you think, Kyrle. Of course 
these things cut in, but one must discount them 
in farming as in other lines of business. A total 
crop failure is an unknown thing in this region ; 
we can count on sufficient rain for a moderate 
crop every year, and we know pretty well when 
to look for frosts. If a man will do well by his 
land, the harvest will come as sure as taxes. All 
the farmer has to do is to make the best of what 
Nature and intelligent cultivation will always 
produce. But he must use his gray matter in 
other ways than in just planning the rotation of 
crops. When he finds his raw staples selling for 
a good deal less than actual value,—less than 
he can produce them for, he should go into the 
market and buy against higher prices, for he 
may be absolutely certain that higher prices will 
come.” 
« But how is one to know? Corn changes so 
that one can’t form much idea of its actual 
value.” 
«No more than other staples. You know 
what fur is worth, because you’ve watched the 
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