HOUSE AND GARDEN 
36 
September, 1915 
, <r 
The young trees that are growing up around us are as yet only an added burden, but they are the most substantial investment on the place 
making over six per cent interest. This is a low rate of return 
for money subject to the inevitable risk of business, but serves 
to suggest the amount of money which a business of like calibre 
would require in the financial world. 
If, after the period of development has passed, you cannot 
figure out a profit or see one in prospect, then is the time to 
talk of working for your neighbor; but until that time—unless 
you die mentally—take your courage in both hands and carry the 
fight through to the finish, despite the discouragements which 
will meet you at every 
turn. 
My problem of 
farm management 
centered around the 
orchard, for that was 
the crux of the whole 
proposition, and the 
chief element con¬ 
trolling all plans was 
the eight-mile haul to 
the railroad, made 
even more burden¬ 
some by a heavy hill. 
The first consideration is self-evident—a way must be found to 
minimize that cost. The answer is equally obvious: produce only 
high-grade fruit. 
But to raise the grade of the fruit in the orchard is a slow 
process, while to find the market is a slower one yet. One can¬ 
not find the market without the fruit nor can one afford to raise 
the high-grade fruit without a high-priced outlet, so the one 
elevating process must go hand in hand with the other. Each 
year must see both advantages pushed a little further. 
Immediately an¬ 
other factor is pre¬ 
sented, for an effec¬ 
tive organization must 
be kept within reach 
to handle the crop. 
Untrained labor will 
not do for this high- 
grade packing; there 
must be specialists in 
every department. 
We can count on get¬ 
ting some of these 
men as they are 
For ihe first time in fifty years the hilltop was plowed and harrowed. Our wheat crop was the first 
sewed in that region for two decades 
