LOOKING BACKWARD 397 
form of business demands prompt, timely, and in- 
telligent attention to make it yield its best. The 
orchards have been my chief care for seven years ; 
the spraying, mulching, and cultivation have been 
done by the men, but I think I have spent one 
whole year, during the past seven, among my 
trees. Do I charge my orchards for this time? 
No; for I have gotten as much good from the 
trees as they have from me, and honors are easy. 
A meditative man in his sixth lustrum can be 
very happy with pruning-hook and shears among 
his young trees. If he cannot, I am sincerely 
sorry for him. 
I have not increased my plant during the past 
four years. My stock consume a little more than 
I can raise; but there are certain things which 
a farm will not produce, and there are other 
things which one had best buy, thus letting others 
work their own specialties. 
If I had more land, would I increase my 
stock? No, unless I had enough land to warrant 
another plant. My feeding-grounds are filled to 
their capacity from a sanitary point of view, 
and it would be foolish to take risks for mod- 
erate returns. If I had as much more land, I 
would establish another factory ; but this would 
double my business cares without adding one 
item to my happiness. As it is, the farm gives 
me enough to keep me keenly interested, and not 
enough to tire or annoy me. So far as profits 
go, it is entirely satisfactory. It feeds and shel- 
