July, 1906 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



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less, incompetent and in some cases dis- 

 honest tenants, until the owners' share 

 hardly paid the taxes. Naturally dis- 

 couraged, no repairs were made, the build- 

 ings decayed, the tenants wore the land 

 out, without replenishing it, and the place 

 decreased in value from year to year until 

 the owners were glad to sell at such a 

 figure. 



A fairly good two-story nine-room 

 house with a very large barn sadly in need 

 of repairs and some outbuildings went with 

 the place. The land is flanked by a river 

 and a good brook runs through the prop- 

 erty. The soil is sandy loam, with a clay 

 subsoil. Eighty-five acres are cleared; the 

 balance is woodland and oak brush. 

 Twenty acres are of the richest bottom 

 land which will grow anything. This 

 choice land was not available, at the time 

 possession was taken, as through neglected 

 drainage the tract was submerged every 

 spring. After the first payment was made 

 less than $500 remained with which to 

 make the start. Of that sum $250 was ex- 

 pended in a cheap team of horses, cows, 

 young pigs, chickens, implements and seeds. 

 Implements and wagons were well worn 

 and bought at a chance purchase for a 

 trifle. The first work attempted was to 

 repair the drainage of the bottom land. It 

 was successfully accomplished and the en- 

 tire tract planted with corn. An excellent 

 crop was raised, sold for cash and only 

 an amount sufficient for feed retained. An 

 extensive home garden provided potatoes, 

 cabbage, and all necessary vegetables for 

 the entire year, for family use, leaving an 

 abundance of waste, which was utilized to 

 feed the pigs and chickens. Good pasture 

 land with an assured large hay crop and 

 facilities for the disposing of milk for cash 

 showed the new owner's good judgment 

 in having given his attention to the dairy 

 possibilities of the place. During the first 

 winter strenuous efforts were made to keep 

 the remaining little cash sum intact. Team 

 work at $3.00 per day was obtained, more 

 than enough to cover living expenses. 

 Three more cows with calves by their sides 

 were purchased out of the winter earnings, 

 and still a trifle was left for the necessary 

 spring expenses. Following the set pur- 

 pose, young calves a few days old were 

 purchased from neighbors or where oppor- 

 tunity afforded at $2.00 per head and 

 raised to milch cows. At this writing the 

 herd in the fall of the second year has 

 increased to eight milch cows and seven 

 heifers of all ages. The milk is sold at the 

 door to wholesale dealers at four cents per 

 quart in summer and five cents in winter. 

 The aim is to bring up the herd to thirty 

 head, which will be possible in course of a 

 few years, counting the natural increase, 

 and by successfully raising the purchased 

 calves. The barn has been repaired and 

 put in good order, and stalls for the fifteen 

 head now in possession have been erected. 

 A further increase in the herd will neces- 



Another View of the Bam 



:w>* 



The New Outbuildings Completed the Second Year 



The Herd of Milch Cows 



