HOTV JOHN JOHNSTON MANAGES HIS MANURE. 79 



" You take a pencil, Deacon,* said I, " and write down the 

 figures : 



Manure from a ton of oil-cake $19.72 



Manure from a ton of clover-hay 9.G4 



Manure from two tons of straw 5.33 



$3173 



" This would make about ten tons of manure. We have agreed 

 to reduce the estimate one-half, and consequently we have $17.36 

 as the value of the ten tons of manure." 



4 ' This is John Johnston's manure. It is worth $1.73 per ton in 

 the field. 



" It costs, we have estimated, 50 cents a ton to handle the manure, 

 and consequently it is worth in the yard $1.23 per ton." 



" This is less than we made it before," said the Deacon. 



" Never mind that," said I, " the figures are correct. Now write 

 down what your manure is worth : 



Manure from 1 ton of corn 6.05 



Manure from 3 tons of straw 8.04 



$14.09 



" This will make about ten tons of manure. In this case, as in the 

 other, we are to reduce the estimate one-half. Consequently, we 

 have $7.35 as the value of this ten tons of manure in the field, or 

 73 cents a ton. It costs, we have estimated, 50 cents a ton to 

 handle the manure, and, therefore, it is worth in theyard,23i cents 

 a ton." 



" John Johnston's manure is worth in the yard, $1.23 per ton. 

 The Deacon's manure is worth in the yard, 23| cents per ton." 



" There is some mistake," exclaimed the Deacon, " you said, at 

 first, that one load of John Johnston's manure was worth as much 

 as two of my loads. Now you make one load of his manure worth 

 more than five loads of my manure. This is absurd." 



" Not at all, Deacon," said I, " you made the figures yourself. 

 You thought Mr. Lawcs' estimate too high. You reduced it one- 

 half. The figures are correct, and you must accept the conclusion. 

 If John Johnston's manure is only worth $1.23 per ton in the yard, 

 yours, made from 1 ton of corn and 3 tons of straw, is only 

 worth 23^ cents per ton." 



" And now, Deacon," I continued, " while you have a pencil in 

 your hand, I want you to make one more calculation. Assuming 

 that Mr. Lavves' estimate is too high, and we reduce it one-half, 



