HOUSE AND GARDEN 
Septem per, 
1914 
187 
outlay of about $75 per month. It can be 
conjectured how soon that would “run a 
man into a hole” if he did not have an in¬ 
come to supply it. Some persons can sup¬ 
port a family on less. It should be noted 
that the item “labor” given in crop ex¬ 
penses amounts to $193.75. If I had been 
able to avoid hiring labor by doing all the 
work myself, as many persons in my place 
would have done, this expenditure would 
have been avoided, and the deficit of 
$174.12 would have been changed to a 
profit of $19.63, but this could hardly be 
regarded as good wages for a year’s labor. 
On the other hand, no allowance was made 
for my own labor, which was considerable. 
Another item to be taken into considera¬ 
tion in regard to the expense of the farm 
is the decrease in housekeeping expenses. 
The average cost of keeping house for the 
five years previous to coming to the coun¬ 
try had been $1,109 P er annum. This in¬ 
cluded food, heating, lighting, laundry and 
service. For the first year in the country 
the cost of the same items was $745.72, 
and for the second year $704.42, the aver¬ 
age of which is $725.07, which shows a 
saving over the five previous years of 
$384.82. A portion of this saving is due 
to those things supplied by the farm, such 
as milk, butter, eggs, chickens and vege¬ 
tables, the remainder to the more simple 
mode of living in the country. To this 
might be added quite an appreciable sav¬ 
ing in the cost of clothing for the entire 
family, for naturally one does not dress in 
the same manner while living the “simple 
life” as he does when leading the “strenu¬ 
ous life” of the city. 
It would be impossible to make an accu- 
late return of all the profits and losses of 
the farm, because so many things are con¬ 
cerned. The best that can be done is to 
estimate them. It will be noted, that the 
saving in housekeeping expenses due to 
life on the farm ($384.83) is greater than 
the net loss in farming operations 
($341.38), but in comparing those figures 
the milk, eggs, etc., are counted on both 
sides, which is misleading But there 
might still be made a considerable allow¬ 
ance for the gain in health, comfort and 
pleasure which we have all derived from 
our country life, and which cannot be esti¬ 
mated in dollars and cents. 
The moral of this story, or the excuse 
for its having been written, if any should 
seem to be necessary, is, to extend a word 
of caution to those who may be enticed by 
the tales of the wonderful profits to be 
derived from the intensive cultivation of 
land and to emphasize the necessity for a 
reserve capital sufficient to place one’s land 
in a fertile condition, supply it with neces¬ 
sary buildings, purchase tools and other 
equipment, and finally to enable the owner 
to tide over one or two unsuccessful sea¬ 
sons. 
In conclusion, it is very evident that 
if one is to remain contented on a farm, he 
must be supplied with patience, determina¬ 
tion and possess a philosophic nature. 
pllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllM . Hlilllllll . 11111111111 . UllllllllllllllllH . 1UHIII111I111.a. 
I I LL PROTECT YOUR CONCRETE, CEMENT 
I OR STUCCO HOUSE AGAINST DAMPNESS! 
O NE coat of BAY STATE BRICK 
AND CEMENT COATING will 
waterproof all concrete and cement 
surfaces without destroying the dis¬ 
tinctive texture of the Cement. It be¬ 
comes a part of the material over which 
it is applied and affords lasting protection 
to the structure, preventing discoloration 
of interior and exterior surfaces caused 
by moisture corroding the metal lathing. 
Send for Booklet 2 , which contains 
complete information on the subject of 
waterproofing and decorating Concrete 
surfaces. 
WADSWORTH, HOWLAND & CO., Inc., 
gj Paint and Varnish Makers and Lead Corroders BOSTON, MASS. 
Im= 
Your Lawn Needs Feeding Now 
It is time to do it NOW and WELL ROTTED 
HORSE MANURE, Dried, Ground, odorless — 
Largely HUMUS—No weed seeds — No refuse, 
contains the necessary plant foods for maintain¬ 
ing your LAWN in the best condition. 
Put up in bags 100 pounds each. 
Write for circular “B” and prices. 
NEW YORK STABLE MANURE COMPANY 
273 Washington St., Jersey City, N. J. 
HARDY PHLOX 
is the most economical flower in the garden. Can be used 
anywhere and everywhere. For a minimum of care, give 
maximum of flower and exquisite odor throughout season. 
You will be interested in my list. It includes three hun¬ 
dred varieties. Also Irises and Delphinium. 
W. F. SCHMEISKE 
(Hospital Station) Binghamton, N. Y. 
KRELBGE'S GUTGH BULBS 
including the world-renowned novelties 
of their own raising (Darwin and 
Rembrandt Tulips. etc.)j are offered in 
their new catalog, sent free on request to 
J. A. deVEER, 
100 WILLIAM STREET (Suite 200), NEW YORK 
Fall orders solicited not later than October 1st. 
HARDY PERENNIALS 
S EEDS: Special collection. 12 popular varieties 2 5 
cts., worth 50cts. Plants: Iris, Peonies, 
etc. Special lists with culture directions free. 
ROSEDALE HARDY PLANT FARM 
Camden. N. J. 
Castilian Cane Chairs, $40 
These lounging chairs, hand-made of 
cane on bamboo frames, are extremely durable for 
use without cushions. Photos on request. 
Write for booklet of the ever interesting McHughwillow urniture 
JOSEPH P. McHUOH & SON 
/ince 1884 at 9 West 42 d JT, New York 
OUR BENT=EAVE 
Full Iron Frame Greenhouse 
Attached to Glass-Enclosed Porch 
Metropolitan IViaterial Co. 
Patented and Pending 
Iron Frame, Curved Eave and Semi-Iron Greenhouses 
An Unclimbable 
Wire Fence 
F OR protecting your grounds from pilfering or 
annoying intrusion—this non-climbable, man-proof 
wire fence is most effective. The barbed wire over¬ 
hang is a menace that even the most lawless prefer not 
to tackle. 
This particular fence is fufly described in our cat¬ 
alog, along with numerous other fences and gateways 
of the better sort. Send for it. Let us know your fence 
needs so we can offer suggestions. 
American Fence 
Construction Co. 
100 Church Street, New York City 
Greenhouse Designers Heating Engineers 
Hotbed Sash Glass 
Plans and estimates sent free upon request. 
1388-1418 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
hi writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden, 
