imitate thatching. That was the way our house was finally built 
though a hurricane had struck it, and half of the money gone 
which we could spend on the whole place. 
We complained to the contractor of the incompetence, if not 
actual graft of our foreman. He said he understood the matter 
thoroughly, as the foreman had been a city-bred ex-policeman. 
The result of our conversation was that we would continue to 
employ five of the Italians and that 1 should superintend the labor. 
I will always look back with delight on the splendid way in which 
my Italians worked. In the short time they were with me, we 
systematically cleared off piles of stones from the five acres, made 
a respectable road and accomplished a large amount of grading 
about the house. 
I am sure many women would find this overseeing of their out¬ 
on scientific farming, and was told minutely how and when to fer¬ 
tilize the land, put in condition our old apple trees and sow 7 the 
grass seed. I will briefly give the facts. In April we ploughed 
up all the land and harrowed it with a large tooth harrow; then 
applied basic slag at the rate of 600 pounds per acre. This con¬ 
tains 40% of lime, as well as a large percentage of phosphoric 
acid, which is essential for the lawn and pasture. When that was 
harrowed in until the soil was quite fine, sulphate of potash was 
sown over the land, Y\ of a pound to 100 square feet, and again 
w r e used the harrow. The land was now ready for the sowing of 
crimson clover. This brings nitrogen into the soil when ploughed 
under and paves the way for a splendid lawn and pasture. We 
(Continued on page 218) 
door work interesting and delightful, 
and the results both satisfactory and 
economical. 
Late in the spring I reluctantly let my 
gang go, and for that summer we lived 
on our place without making further im¬ 
provements. During this time, every 
evening as we sat on the piazza, we 
pointed out to each other the many things 
that needed attention, and fully as many 
times the farmers, expert and otherwise, 
advised us how to alter these matters, 
and of course all the suggestions varied. 
Finally I decided that if, with my lack 
of experience, I had to superintend the 
cultivation, I would get professional ad¬ 
vice. I went to a well-known authority 
