184 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



kets became empty and the price rose ; a few men who 

 had stuck to the business pushed in their droves and made 

 money ; and now everybody is raising mules again. The 

 same^arae is played every four or five years with pork; 

 men make when pork is scarce, but few farmers liave stock 

 on hand. They instantly rush into the business, flood the 

 country with hogs and get almost nothing for them. Why 

 don't men take the hint ? A moderate stock all the time, 

 makes more money than that system which has none when 

 the price is high and too many when the price is low. 



Because one year, the wheat crop has been very large 

 and fine, and the price low, not half so much will be put in 

 another year. Those who are wise, foreseeing this fact and 

 sowing largely, will, if the season favors wheat, reap a hand- 

 some profit. 



Auctioneers tell us that a " wink is as good as a word." 

 We give both, and hope our readers will take the hint. 



MIXING PAINT, AND LAYING IT ON. 



It is convenient, and oftentimes, on the score of economy, 

 necessary for persons (who have not been apprenticed to 

 the trade), to do their own painting. To enable such to 

 practise with success, we propose giving a few hints. 



EESPECTING THE ARTICLES USED. 



White Lead. — This is extensively manufactured in all of 

 our principal cities. Low priced leads are always adulterated 

 by chalk, or, as it is called in its prepared state, whiting. It 

 is sometimes so largely mixed with this, as to be worthless, 

 and every one has observed houses, painted for a year 

 or so, from which the paint rubs off like whitewash, in 



