8 MY vineyaed; 



prise, so far avail ourselves of the experience of others as 

 to materially affect the success which we may attain. In 

 making this record of my experience, I disclaim all efforts 

 at fine writing. My only aim will be to give the facts in 

 the case, in the simplest and plainest language I can com- 

 mand. 



When I first took ,up rural pursuits as my vocation, I 

 \vas not altogether unacquainted with the theories and 

 principles which pertain to them. From my boyhood, I 

 have always had a great fondness for gardening, and all 

 labor incident to country life. When learning my trade 

 in the village printing office, I took great delight in read- 

 ing all the agricultural and horticultural exchanges. My 

 companion apprentice. Bob, as we called him then, always 

 thought it stupid to read papers of that kind, preferring, 

 for iiimself, to follow up with great care all political con- 

 troversies, and taking great delight at the complete sum- 

 mersaults which expert politicians (in those days) some- 

 times found it convenient to make. Many of these 

 horticultural publications I took possession of, by permis- 

 sion of the editor, and carefully preserved. I now consider 

 them one of the important features of my little library. 



All this time I had in mind the picture of a pleasant 

 country home, where I could employ myself in tilling the 

 soil, and could spend the quiet evenings with my books 

 and papers — but not alone. Some one was there who 

 was the light of home. After all, I did not think whea 



