IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) '/ ^ /. 4. ^/ /°^ Mp ,0 f^ M' 1.0 I.I IIM iU Itt 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 M 6" - ► V] <^ /a Hunter, Robe & Co., Prikiers 80 A>D 88 KiKO Street West, TorostOj ^' FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; AND HOW I MADE IT. # CHAPTER I. EAKLY HISTORY — LIFE IN NEW YORK — WHAT IT LED TO. In 185G, misfortune overtook my father in his mercantile pursuits, and avaricious creditors eagerly gathered v-p the very last item he had accumulated for years. Consequently I was forced to give up the cherished idea of a college education, and go forth to grapple with the stern realities of life. I had been exceedingly fond of my books* and learned readily ; this was all my stock in store^ with which to go forth to make my way in the world. Bom and bred in a western country town, I had large ideas of a city, and was convinced it was the great field into which one must only enter to come out well supplied vdth earthly goods. Led by this vague guiding-star T went forth, believing the great city of New York should be the Mecca towards which T 4 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; I must journey, and there find my fortune. I arrived in New York, and found myself a stranger in a strange land. Without a trade, I had nothing to recommend me ; no friends to intercede for me. Without any particular knowledge of anything whatsoever, and without any business experience, I was forced to withdraw as often as I applied. A cold and heartless world it appeared to me. Day after day I searched up and down through the great city, to find night overtaking me, with nothing accomplished, without hope, and daily be- coming more and more discouraged, until I found the little means given me by a kind mother, with her blessing, dwind- ling down. Poverty began to stare me in the face, and that matters would come to a crisis soon was very evident. Thus driven to the last extremity, I hired out as a boy to a broker, upon the magnanimous sum of one dollar and twenty-five cents a week. Of course this did not pay very well ; but in six weeks' time 1 had made several acquaintances, and I found another situation, which paid me four dollars a week. For some two years 1 roamed from one position to another, watching my opportunities to secure each year better pay and prospects, until at last I was rewarded by a position as assistant book-keeper in a wholesale house, in which I soon became one of the fixtures of the institution. After three years of devoted and strict attention to busi- ness, I was permitted to draw eight hundred dollars a year for my services. By purchading all my clothing at wholesale, I succeeded in making all my points meet. In this situation my hours were from eight to five, and my evenings were devoted to reading and improving my mind. ! i AND HOW I MADE IT. V This was a pleasant and cherished pastime, and my taste ran more to history, biogiaphy, and the sciences, than to novel-reading. During this time I felt sorely the bondage under which I was forced to live, for my necessary support. I longefl to be a free man, to be my own master; but in vain. Every avenue into ^ 'hich I might wish to enter, every opportunity whereby I might turn the course of money into my pocket, seemed blockaded with the simple fact that I posse&sed no capital. The more I butted against these stem facts, the more vexed I became, and the more determined I was that I should fight my way into some business, for my own account. But alas ! it was all in vain. I had no moneyed friends to help me, no rich relation to die and leave an estate, however inconsiderable. I had become fully convinced that no chance would be left for me as partner in the firm, however useful I might be- come, as my employers had large fiirailies, and sons just ready to come upon the scene of action. Other fields mu.st be found, and the sooner a foundation was laid the better. By chance, I read one day an article on small-fruit culture, which interested me, though some of the statements appeared rather exaggerated. Out of mere curiosity I visited the markets, and was surprised at the immense amounts and profits <*f the business. I said at once, this is the work for me ; why can- not I raise fruit, and benries, and vegetables to sell as well as any one ? Upon a more diligent investigation I became more thoroughly convinced, and was not long in deciding that some such occupation would be my best forte. I then resolved to spend my winter, reading upon agriculture and e FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR, 8mall fruits, to save every i)enny to the utteiiuost, and in the spring go into the suburbs, hire a small piece of ground, and spend my leisure hours in cultivating it as an experiment. The more I studied the more I became interested, and con- fident of success. In the meantime I was searching diligently for information from practical truckers and fruit-growers, and visited many of those noted growers v/hose names are familiar to the agricultural press. I found them very clever, and willing to impart information, which was in striking contrast with the all-grasping and avaricious men of the city. ■ir ..;AjV y • CHAPTER 11. SPRING WORK AND PLANS— SEARCH FOR LAND — SELECTION OF CROPS— EXPENSE OF STARTING BUSINESS —TRANSPLANTING — FREAK OF JACK FROST — MY WORK, AND HOW IT WAS MANAGED. ^ Having prepared to enter upon a campaign more active than any of its predecessors, and a winter's read, g and study having prey ared me as far as a theoretical iinowledp: - cculd avail me, I was almost a new man in all agrlcr^arai mat- ters. Such had heen the increase in my general information, and the great inspiration to activity that it had given me, that I felt confident I could proceed without trouble, little realizing what in fact was befoi'e me. Many told me it was but a vein of enthusiasm, which would soon die out. A portion of it I admit was ; but it served its purpose in arousing my ambition, and in spurring me on to the practical performance of much to my welfare, although I found my stock of knowledge was small, compar- ed with what I had yet to learn. Earl}"- spring came upon me before I realized the winter half gone, so deeply had I been interested in my studies. By putting in practice the plans I had made the previous fall, I had accumulated in the savings bank the small sum arac 8 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; ! I ! ! of seventy dollars, — by lay?/ g aside ten dollars every month, no matter what were my necessities for using it otherwise. This was all I liad in hand with which to commence opera- tions. How to invest this amount to the best advantage was now the great problem I had to solve. In whatever I undertook I had determined it should be done without the necessity of neglecting my other duties appertaining to my business in New York, for the fii-st year at least ; for I could illy aflford to throw up a sure and steady income for any improbability of success. To accomplish this it would be necessary for me to establish my basis of operations somewhere within easy access of New York. To think of buying with my small capital was entirely out of the question, and my only alter- native was to rent a small piece of ground adapted to my requirements. I had ac(iuired many useful hints from truckers, and also noticed that the largest number of them came principally from different portions of Long Island, and not very far dis- tant either. I searched and advertised without any success. I tried another expedient, of taking short rambles into the country suburbs near the city, and thereby was better informed of the general surroundings of the city than ever before, wit- nessing many things and learning many facts which greatly surprised me. It is possible for people to live in the city a lifetime, and know nothing of their sunoundings. So much rock, and the great distance to the upper part of New York, or Manhatten Island, attended with the great inconvenience in travelling to and fro, was a great barrier to locating in '? AND HOW I MADE IT. 9 ? r -I that vicinity ; while to New Jersey soil I was quite averse, although the means of transit were much more frequent and , desirable than at any other place. There was no other point apparently more convenient or better adapted to my wants, which remained, than the Brooklyn or Long Island Shore. But even here I found trials and tribulations, though of a different nature. This city being spread over more ground, though not as thickly built up, had the same deficiency in means of transit, and the distance across the city to its suburbs was nearly as great. The soil in the suburbs was light and loamy, and quite free from stones, and to my untutored mind had every appearance of what I most needed. The scarcity of houses left many lots in open ground, which were held principally by capitalists as a speculation, waiting for time and increase of inhabitants to raise the value of their lands. I picked out a nice plot of several lots ad- joining, which I judged to be about half an acre, and made diligent search for the owner thereof, whom I found to be not easily persuaded, not knowing when he should sell ; but finally he agreed to a lease for one year for one hundred dol- lars. He assured me I would not succeed ; if from no other cause, its proximity would lead some evil-minded persons to commit serious depredations. My lease was dated from the first of April, and the first two weeks were spent in sundry preparations, among which was the securing of a boarding- place near at hand, and con- venient to the scene of my proposed labors. My own com- mon sense told me that my ground must be first manured, then ploughed and harrowed ; but what was most essential ^^ ::!sz ■T 10 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; I for my soil I could not divine, and upon applying to my books for information, I could come to no more definite con- clusion. To purchase manure in such quantity as I should need, and the cost of delivery, would draw upon my treasury to an \m warrantable amount. It occurred to me at this time that the sweepings from the streets of the city must contain a large amount of fertilizing power and mineral properties, while the expense would be very small. Upon application to the street commissioner, he readily consented to supply me with all I should want, delivered upon my plot for twen- ty-five cents a load. Early rising was a habit I was forced to acquire ; for by so doing much valuable time could be economized, and I pro- posed to devote every available moment to my new work. The first morning after I was ensconced in my new home, I started out early, with a shovel in my hand, and employed myself vigorously in spreading my street sweepings thinly over the ground. This work came rather hard at first, and left indelible impressions upon my hands, consequent upon my long ex- emption from physical labor. But on the whole I felt better for it, and a few mornings sufiiced to see this work all com- pleted. -A neighbor had agreed with me to do the ploughing and harrowing — which I found performed in a neat and cre- ditable manner, one night upon my return home — for the mo- derate sum of three dollars. My ground was now awaiting my disposition, and my plans and books were at once consult- ed, for my next move in detail. I had thought it best to devote my principal attention in my new experiment to the cultivation of cabbages and tomatoes, combining with them ti li t AND HOW I MADE IT. n such other plants as would assimilate without harm, and with a show of success. The tomato (so says the book) is one of the most important of all garden products, and the facility with which it is managed places it readily under the control of the least experienced. But to produce early crops the seed must be put down in hot-beds, or forcing-pits, some ten or twelve weeks before the plants are fit to be placed in the ground. How encouraging ! It was now the middle of April. In twelve weeks' time I could have plants fit for transplanting; that would be the middle of July, before which time I should have tomatoes for sale by rights. A second consideration was the expense of the hot-bed, and the probability of its success at so late a day. One of my prin- cipal objects was to secure early produce for the market, and this would not do at all. To recover this lost time I must secure from some gardener a quantity of plants sufficiently advanced to be ready for the open gi'ound, which was accomplished by the expenditure of no little time and trouble. An abundance of rank stock, with short, stubby roots and otherwise of medium class, were found, but my selections ■were of those well advanced, with long and a plenty of fibrous roots. Perseverance insured my success, and I secured my tomato plants at an average cost of one dollar and twenty- five cents per hundred, and cabbage plants at seventy -five cents per hundred, I secured my cabbage plants at the same time, thus saving a second seai h for them. I found it ne- cessary to exercise much precaution in planting ; aid that it was far preferable, in fact an essential object, to have a dark or rainy day in which to set them out, which would prevent 12 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; them from being wilted by the hot sun before their roots had taken hold of or begun to work in their new soil. As this would be a loss of time which I could not admit of, and the nights being warm for the season, I labored by the light of the moon, covering each plant with a bit of paper to protect it during the coming day, and every morning for a few days sprinkle them with water. I set them out in rows three feet apart each way, and placed a small handful of stable manure around each hill, two loads of which I had previously provided, at an expense of two dollars per load, delivered upon m\' ground. The cabbages were likewise set out three feet apart each way, and treated in every respect the same as tomatoes. They had come to me well prepared, set in small boxes of earth, containing from three to four dozen each, that they might keep well for some time. In a week's time I had accomplished the whole work with my own hands. Two April showers were timely given, which helped to sustain the life of the plants after transplanting, and I saw no indications of losing any until about a week after they were all out, when a sudden change in tlie weather one night brought on a severe frost. Upon going out in the morning and finding Jack Frost revelling in his sports upon my tomatoes, I felt quite unplea- sant towards him, for I was certain my work would have to be done over again ; but happily he succeeded in laying waste only about one hundred of them, which I speedily replaced. My two hours work every morning brought me AND HOW I MADE IT. 13 great enjoyment after the first few days, fatigue had worn off. The interest in my work had brought on the habit of early rising more easily than I had anticipated, and upon the whole my new pursuits appeared to better capacitate me for the more proper perfonnanee of my daily duties in my busi- ness, while the result for the better in my health was quite apparent from the first. My whole soul was now thoroughly aroused, and appeared to pour itself into this one channel with such unwonted power that my business in the city began to lack the interest which I had formerly found in it. I might say with safety that it was somewhat neglected. Working for hire in behalf of others had lost its charm, and an ambition for selfish interests had quite superseded it. I i a CHAPTER HI. ECONOMIZING ROOM — AUXILIARY CROPS — A HALF ACRE OF TRUCK — WEEDS VERSUS CROPS — BATTLE WON — STUDY OF NATURE — PREPARATIONS FOR MARKETING — PRACTICE OF TRUCKERS — PROFITS OF MIDDLE MEN — TO SAVE IS TO EARN. My half acre was at this time covered equally with tomatoes and cahbages, yet much room was left which might be econo- mized by growing some crop or crops which could be gath- ered at an earlier day, and which would not materially interfere with what I had already out. My books now came into requisition, and I studied the nature and characteristics of various articles, which had any probability of meeting my wants. After much contempla- tion I decided upon planting lettuce and radishes. There is, perhaps, no plant of the garden we could so ill afford to dispense with as lettuce. Few gardens of all classes are without it, and its freedom from insects and disease makes it one of the most easily-to-be-managed vegetables in the hands of any one. The plants intended to mature for an early market will require treatment similar to tomatoes and cabbages, and to effect that object they are set out in hot- houses as early as February, that they maybe in a condition to transplant to the open ground so soon as the frost has left it in the spring. ' FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. 15 Lettuce generally matures its crop in about half the time it takes for tomatoes, and about one quarter as long as is required by cabbages, and therefore is all cut off before it can in any way interfere with them. I had no other course than the one pursued previously in getting my other plants, that of purchasing lettuce plants from professional gardeners, which was an additional expense, by the last week in April they were all ^et out between my rows of tomatoes each way, and all looked very promising. My plot of ground consisted of ten city lots, twenty-five feet wide and one hundred feet deep. They were so situated that five fronted on one street, and the remaining five upon tlie next street below. The whole plot was one hundred and twenty-five feet wide and two hundred feet long. One half of this was set out with tomatoes, which gave me thirty-three rows, averaging forty-one tomato plants each, or a total of one thousand three hundred and fiftv-three. In each of these rows I had placed n row of lettuce, eighteen inches apart, and eighteen inches from each tomato plant. This gave me thirty-two rows of lettuce of eighty- two in a row. In each row of tomatoes between each hill, I also placed a lettuce plant, which gave me thirty-three rows of forty each, or a total of three thousand nine hundred and forty-four lettuce-plants, which, if they all lived and matured well, would make quite a handsome little crop. I have endeavored to show how systematically and economi- cally I had disposed of this first half of my garden plot, and as a first attempt I thought it well conceived and ex- ecuted, and therefore proceeded to make a similar disposition 16 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; of my second half. This was not so readily accomplished. Eadishes, like lettuce, prefer a very light soil as well as rich, to produce a fair crop; while my books said they were usually sown broadcast and harrowed in. How to do this, with ray cabbages already set out, was beyond my ability to conceive ; but after much reflection I originated an idea in my head, as I thought, but which after- wards proved but a common practice among gardeners of long standing. My idea was to make a little furrow with my hoe-handle between the rows of my cabbages, and then cover them by lightly shoving the back of the hoe over the row. This was a much longer and more tedious job than I had anticipated, and perhaps the most unprofitable of any part of my experiment. Having a rather treacherous memory, I was induced to provide myself a small pass-book, which I could carry in my pocket, and had been careful to note down my proceedings each day, and marked therein the different phases of my plants and work, as it was observed from day to day. A few pages were also set apart for suggestions which would occur to me, and needing further study or a practical demonstration. I had therefore not only a correct data of all transpiring around me, but ample scope for medi- tation. A book of this kind adds much to any one's knowledge, and helps to form a systematic way of doing all things. System is the great corner-stone of a man's existence. By this means I was sanctioned and aided in pursuing my experiment in detail in many practical directions. The reader may have cause to laugh at these things; but he AND HOW I MADE IT. 17 must remember I was actually ignorant, and trying hard to learn, and in my attempt ofttimes I arrived at well-known and practical truths by the most circuitous routes. By so doing I think a deeper impression was made upon my memory than had I been told of it by one who knew. I had noticed that a few hills of tomatoes, around which I had loosened the soil very frequently, and more often than the rest, were gi'owing up more rapidly. Being unable to find any other reason, I concluded that frequent stirring of the soil was more conducive to the rapid growth and more complete development of the plant. Weeds will grow where nothing else will, and just where you do not wish them. They weie very provoking, and it soon be- came a matter of necessity rather than of theory, that I should raise the hoe with skill, and attack these little enemies all over my plantation, lest the devastation of this little army should lay waste my fields and empty my gi-anaries. The weather was quite propitious, and every day bespoke the near approach of summer in earnest. Weeds grew in spite of all I could do, and for some time seemed to threaten the total annihilation of all my plants. . . ,.-.,. It was the hardest battle I had ever fought, but victory was my final reward. , ; , , .* r After I had subdued these obnoxious intruders, I could almost see my plants grow, and I continued to hoe them over and over again, keeping the soil almost constantly stirred. April showers appeared to be more abundant this season than I had ever noticed them, and kept with us until late in May, and their beneficent influence was felt alike by weeds and plants. With every fresh shower it would ap- 1 I 18 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; pear as if a new crop of weeds had been sown, which needed just those few hours of warm sunshine to bring thero out. The old saying, that toads were brought down by showers, appeared to be changed, and weeds substituted in their place. " A constant dropping will wear away a stone," and encour- aged by this maxim, a constant dropping of the hoe upon them kept them under pretty good subjection. My out-door exercise had produced a wonderful change in me, and among other things the most notable was the increase of my appetite. A remark to this effect by the landlady, at this time, touched me rather sensitively, and I began to fear lest she might advance the price c^ my board, and here would be a dilemma ; for a financial pressure of this character, under my present circumstances, would have been a blow under which I would be unable to exist. I had assured her I was a delicate eater, and had done so con- scientiously ; but when a review of the immense amount of the substantials which I passed out of sight was taken into consideration, I was not surprised that she should doubt my veracity. I endeavored to assure her all would be right, and set forth very temptingly how I would before long be able to supply her table with some choice vegetables. I was confident that it was nothing else than my out-door exercise which was the innocent cause of my great appetite. Dyspepsia no longer interfered with digestion. I was no longer the thin and slender man I had formerly beheld in the mirror, with a pale, ghostly complexion ; but full and brown, heavier and happier than ever before. I am digressing, however, at an improper point, from my story. My course had been entered upon and I must run . > AND HOW I MADE IT. 19 the race, win or lose. As the season advanced, I watched with much pleasure the unfolding of each leaf and the maturing process of each plant, closely identifying the works of God, which were truly wonderful ! It was with a rare delight I was seized, the day I discovered my first little green tomato, hanging so gr.acefully from its shaded bower, and I moved with a quick s*^.ep and a light heart, full of en- couragement. It was a timely warning to r o that the .sowing and seed time was fairly in the past, find that the harvest would soon be here. A glance into the future han'est time, for it ap- peared as though my life was then confined within the seed time and harvest, pointed out [jlainly that there was work of a different nature at hand in the preparation forgathering my crops. I must be prepared for the marketing of my pro- ducts, and have all things provided and ready, that there might be no delay when harvest time arrived. This was my first experiment, — not just to .see what I could raise, but to assure myself what income could be derived from it, and it was to receive a fair trial at my hands, either for profit or loss; and accordingly I looked with care into the various meaas practised of transporting produce to market, and how it was marketed. It was customary for parties living at a distance, after gathering their produce, to pack it neatly and with care in some appropriate box, basket, or other article, as its require- ments might demand, and ship it by railroad or boat to the city market, consigned to some good commission agent, who would sell and deduct a percentage — ^generally five per cent. — for his pay. I was so situated as to liave no railroad or I? 20 FIVK THOUSAND A YEAR; boat facilities, and, besides, I could ill attbrroduce generally ottered for sale of a moiiiing by the grocery-man has already been at least twenty-four hours plucked from its bed, this time being retpiired in its transpor- tation and passage through the dealer's hands. In this arrangement I made, I was at no exjjense for baskets, in which to pack my produce ; for having an abun- dant supply for other purposes they brought them ovit for me to fill. Having satisfactorily arrangecl all these pre- liminaries, I was now prepared to receive anytliing Dame Nature might clioose to grant, and anxiously and closely watched the consummation of my experiment. A toleral»ly good fence was upon the lots when I took possession, and I had devoted some odd moments from time to time in putting it in good repair, thus preventing the de- predations of any unruly cow which might 1)6 disposed to gratify her appetite by the tempting disi)lay in my garden. Fortunately my neighboi-s did not possess any little pigs or chickens, and no thieves were tempted to trespass upon my domain, although the latter was my gi-eatest fear. Within the limits of a great city there necessarily accumu- FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. late many people of many minds, and that community which is free from evil-disposed persons, who seek to obtain dis- honestly those things they have not the ambition to acquire honestly, would be one well worth visiting, for it is very rare. This was the burden of my fears, locating in the suburbs of so great a city. But if there were any such they failed to give me a call, which I in nowise regretted. Long and pro- tracted rain-storms were frequent, a.s well as drawbacks, this season ; but for all of that time sped on until the first harvest, and I could do no more than abide the result. I I ^ CHAPTER IV. FERTILIZERS — FIRST SALE — AN EARLY MARKET — RETURNS FOR PRODUCE — A DOLLAR SAVED IS TWO DOLLARS EARNED — AUXILIARY CROPS — TOMATOES. At this point I could not do otherwise than speak well of street-sw^ecpings, although I did think the great amount of weeds I had to conquer was somehow attriljutable to the fertilizers I had used. 1 had no reason to complain however, for the result thus far had been all I could expect from any of the accustomed fertilizers. It may have been just the partic- ular article needed to resuscitate the soil I had to cultivate, while in another instance it might be entirely useless. This result is equally as liable to occur with any of the ordinary fertilizers employed as well as this. I have often seen two tields side by side, with only a fence to separate them, and while the soil would be every way analogous, and treated pi-ecisely alike, the one would j>roduce remarkably good crops, while its neighbour would produce crops exactly the opposite. Much depends upon the re(|uirements of the soil, which can be determined only by a series of crops raised from it upon successive trials. My land not having been cultivated for several years, appeared to accept this donation very grate- Js :ll: I 24 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; fully, and threw a gi-eat amount of power into the growing, properties of the plants. The middle of May was now at hand, and my lettuce was showing some very large heads. We had already had two or three messes for our table, and it was very fine and tender. I was now watching the market very closely, and had seen but a very few heads exposed for sale. Towards the last of the month it became more abundant, and the ruling price was five cents per head, although grocery men were selling it for twelve or fifteen cents. One morn'-.ig I started out with a bundle of sticks, and marked all the largest heads I could find, until I had made out five hundred. On my way to the city I informed two of the grocciy men I could deliver them at an early hour, two hundred and fifty heads each, at ten cents, upon the following morning. Their wagons were on hand at a bright and early hour, and it was the work of a few moments to gather the heads I had marked out the previous morning. Such heads of lettuce I had never seen, for some of them would entirely conceal a good sized dining-plate. They were beauties for me to behokl. I continued to supply my landlady with all she desired for her table, and it would be unnecessary to repeat her ex- pression of gratitude, nor what pleasure I had in partaking of it, especially as it was grown bj^ my own hands. On my way to the city I stopped at the grocers, and found them highly pleased, and received from them the first returns for my labor, just fifty dollars ; and could I really believe my eyes ? I was not (]uite sure it was more tlian a AND HOW I MADE If. 25 r '•f dream, and a second and a third investigation, as I pursued my course to my business, only tended to assure me that I had just fifty dollars, and that it was really in my pocket, and the result of my own labor. I had brought every exertion, and all the available know- ledge I possessed, into practice, that I might hasten my crops into an early market ; and it was only a fact made more evident, that could I have had more I should have gained a greater profit ; but I had them not, and nearly a week rolled by before I had lettuce again for market, and then the price had fallen. The market was becoming rapidly stocked and the best heads only brought three cents. It was evident to me that the balance would bo ready for market at about the same time, and I adopted the course of selecting and marking out those most matured one morning, and delivering them upon tlie following morning, thus marketing every other day until all I had was disposed of Previously I had sold five hundred heads at seven cents, netting me just thirty-five dollars. 8ul)setiuent sales ran as follows : five hundred heads at five cents, four hundred at four cents, one hundred at two cents, four hundred at one and one half cents, and a balance of nine hundred heads at one dollar per hundred,— making my total receipts from let- tuce one huiidred and fifty-tliree dollars. I had some left, which were unmarketable, ])esides what I had used myself, given away, and otherwise di.spo.sed of I had picked out thirty heads also, intending them to run to seed. I was more advantageously situated than many, and readily accessible to the market from my business, and could easily watch the fluctuations of the market. ::il 1: 2G FIVE THOUSAND A YE-Ut ; My receipts were trivial in amount when compared with larger producers ; but I could afford to take considerable more trouble, which on a larger scale I would avoid. A dol- lar saved was two earned, and if I could save just that dollar by a little extra trouble it was my interest to do so under those circumstances. I was also taucfht, bv those first ex- periences, that it was the early biixl which caught the worm. Competition is not altogether a drawback, but more the sup- port of trade ; for without it we cannot project or cany out the great and solid issues of the da}', and yet we arc vainly striving to clear ourselves of it, without success. There is no business into which we may enter but what has its competition, and it is equally true with the cultivator of the soil ; he strives to overreach hia neighbors, and if he succeeds in reaching an early market, he has not long to reap its benefits, for his neighbors and competitors in the race are close upon his heels, and as the market becomes more abund- antly supplied, the price must fall to accommodate it. If fortune favors one with suitable weather, combined with early planting and good care, he may reap a rich harvest in an early market ; but tide and winds are not always fair, and he is often prevented by these unforeseen circumstances, which are beyond his control, from reaching a market until it has become abundantly supplied ; hence he gets small prices, and as tlio result becomes disheartened and discour- aged, and thereupon affirms that farming don't pay. Such people are of just that class who readily place the blame of their ill-success upon anything else but their own management, and are sure to cry do^vn all things, persons, or books, which are striving to educate the people in their AND HOW I MADE IT. ^^ business, by holding forth their success as a guide and ex- ample. I met an old farmer a few days since, whom I knew had always been opposed to book-farming, as he called it ; and so strong was his antipathy that he positively refused to look at any book on farming, and never would subscribe to an agricultural paper. In the course of conversation he took occasion to reiterate his opinions to me, when I asked him if during his life he had made farming pay. Most certainly he had. " Well," said I, " would you advise a person to commence as you did, and work up ; or would you rather tell him, and save him some of the misfortune you have experienced ?" Now the old man v^as very kind-hearted and social, and would never withhold any mformation asked of him. " Oh," said he, " I should not want any one to pass through all I have. I could tell any young man so he could get along first-rate, and save himself a deal of trouble which I got into just because I knew no better, and had no one to advise me." " Well, then," I said, " if you were to write down on paper a history of all you have done, and troubles you have en- countered and overcome, and it was printed and put into a book, would you cons' ^er it as good a guide as if spoken by your own lips?" " Most assuredly I would," he replied. " Well, then," I responded, " I have a number of books, written by men situated just like yourself, who have passed through similar breakers, and come out safe and successful ; and yet you laugh at me because I read them, and make their experiences my study, and call it book-farming. Surely you I ill 28 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; are very inconsistent, and would feel deeply injured were T to treat a book you might write, as you do others' books." The old man was somewhat puzzled at first, and went away promising to think better of books in future. A short time afterwards I got his subscription for an agricultural paper and he is very fond of looking over the books in my library quite frequently. How well I succeeded, and the effects of strong competition upon my sales, is clearly shown in the quotations of prices given above, all of which occun-ed in the brief space of two weeks. As fast as the lettuce was removed I went over the ground with a hoe, spending two hours each morning, at night an hour.-which might seem to many very small, but in the aggregate amounted to considerable, besides keeping my mind fully occupied, and my ground thoroughly tilled!' My ladishes aj.peared to be rather a drawback, and I was not very much predisposed in their favor. Wlien they became marketable, I accepted an offer of one dollar and a half for them by the hundred, and let them go. They turned out rather small, but good as far as they went. The turnip-root radish was the kind sown, principally, be- cause I had heard them highly extolled, and as the most de- sirable for an early market ; but from my experience I could not endorse them. The price received did not satisfactorily remunerate me,— the whole crop, when gathered, amounting to only thirty-two hundred, and bringing me but forty-eight dollars. Of my auxiliary crops it will be seen the radishes brought me but one-third the amount my lettuce returned. From the first to the middle of June, my tomatoes engaged the best part of my time, and the amount of attention they AND HOW I MADE IT. m y demanded began to requii'c more time than I had to devote to them. This strong indication of the necessity of more la- bor urged upon me the acquisition of .some outside hel[). I supplied myself with a quantity of stakes about live feet in length, j)ointed at one end, and drove one by each vine, to which I tied up the vines loosely, which served to keep them clear from the ground, and give the sun and air more easy access. AH that I succeeded in treating in this manner I was not disappointed in seeing mature more rapidly than those which for lack of time I had left to follow their own inclinations upon the ground. Thus arranged, I could easily walk through and work among them. My cost for stakes and twine was twelve dollars and fifty cents. About the middle of June I saw indications of a few to- matoes turning, and in two weeks more I looked for my first marketing. In looking about, I found I could dispose of them to the grocery-men, as I had the lettuce, only in this case I must furnish my own baskets. For this purpose I })urchased what is commonly known as the peck or tomato basket, at twenty cents each. I considered two hundred (juite a supply, and all I should need for the season. The weather continued warm and fair, and the weeds crew vigorously, and the cabbages were suffering for another hoe- ing ; tomatoes would soon be ready to gather, and work lay on eveiy hand. I saw no remedy for the deplorable condi- tion into which I was fast merging, except by hiring a labor- er. I secured a faithful old colored man, who came well re- commended as a gardener, for two dollars per day. The use of a horse and waggon was also arranged for, if needed, and by these additional helps all was restored to what I believed a necessary and proper condition. CHAPTER V. MARKETING TOMATOES — CONDITION AND SUPPLY OF THE MAR- KET-MARKETING CABBAGES — SALE OF TURNIPS — SUM- MARY OF THE year's EXPERIENCE. Shipments of tomatoes from Bermuda were received in the New York market this year as early as the fifteenth of May bringing two dollars and fifty cents per crate of five quarts, or, in other works, fifty cents per quart. By the first of June the price had fallen to one dollar and fifty cents per crate, and June nineteenth they were selling for seventy -five cents per crate. This fall in price was produced by the arri- val of the first from Norfolk. The distance which the first had to be transported necessarily detracted from their value when compared with the more fresh article received from Norfolk. Norfolk tomatoes, therefore, brought a higher price, being more desirable, and sold for one dollar and fifty to one dollar and twenty-five cents per crate. These early shipments brought good prices, and the shippei-s participated in large profits ; but a home article had a good market awaiting it» and the first lots from New Jersey brought twelve dollars and eighty cents per bushel, or forty cents per quart. The Southern facilities for raising produce for an early market FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. 31 are superior to ours, and for a short time they reap a liberal profii ; but the distance they have to travel, and the rough handling they receive, necessarily decrease their value when put in competition with our home fruit ; yet these shipments have their effect in bringing our home produce into market at a lower rate than it otherwise would without this compe- tition. I had been anxiously hoping for my tomatoes to ripen ; but the stormy weather had put off the harvest until the twenty-fifth of June. The first lot of tomatoes I gathered amounted to twenty peck-baskets, which I had carefully assorted, feeling that my reputation, as well as a good price to be obtained, would depend upon the superiority of the article I should market. I had determined upon sending my tomatoes to the general market, as I could not afford the time that would be required to sell and collect the bills, as I had with my previous crops of lettuce. The first twenty baskets I had sent to market brought me one dollar sixty-one and a half cents per basket, — a total of thirty -two dollars and twenty-five cents after deducting the agent's commission of five doUars and seventy cents and pay- ing freight. > ' It was some days after this before I could gather another shi| ment, and in the meantime I received a note from my agent, — to whom I had previously stated I was a new begin- ner, and asked, as a special favor, that he would do the very best for me,- -congratulating me upon the fine appearance of my little consignment, and intimating that, at an early day, he should like to receive a similar consignment of one hun- dred baskets equally as good. I flattered myself that this B2 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; was owing to the good care I had taken in assorting them. I permitted Henry, my hired help, to gather them, and in the evening I looked them all over, throwing out all imperfect or injured, and shipped one hundred baskets more, which brought me one dollar fourteen cents net. I noticed prices were on the decline, which, as the season advanced, I was sure would run very low. Every morning I took a good survey of my grounds, performing little jobs here and there, and laid out the work for Henry. Cabbages were maturing very rapidly, and were requiring attention, and whithal I kept my laborer well occupied. I made but one more ship- ment to market, which was fifty baskets the first week in July, for which I received one dollar net. From this date the price fell very rapidly, until it Avas only nominal, and not worth the labor of picking. The second week in July, the grocers to whom I had sold lettuce called upon me, signi- fying their desire to be supplied with a good article of tomatoes. I agreed to deliver them twenty baskets every other day as long as they should last upon my gi-ound. The price at the general market held at thirty-five to forty cents for about two weeks, and during that time I received from the grocers fifty cents per basket for one hundred and sixty baskets. About this time, I received from a party engaged in canning fruit, an offer of twenty-five cents a bushel for the balance of my crop. Owing to the pressure of my other business, and the atten- tion required by my cabbages, besides the low figures the market had reached, I concluded it would be better policy to accept his oflfer, especially as he was to pick them himself. AND HOW I MADE IT. 33 When he gave me up the vines, he hatl picked sixty bushels, and paid me fifteen dollars as per agreement. I found my cabbages were very much annoyed with bugs, and the care and watching necessary to keep them off by hand were very tedious ; as a remedy, I suggested to Henry the idea of sprink- ling some ashes over them each morning, for a few days, before the dew was off. To this he demurred very strongly, prophesying the utter destruction of my whole crop if so treated. I was confident I had seen my father do the same in his kitchen-garden in my early years ; but for what pur- pose I was too young to remember, but thought it must have been for some purpose of this kind. I tried it upon a few heads first, and found it quite satis- factory, after which I gave an application of unleached ashes to the whole field, which quite thoroughly eradicated the bugs, It was nearly into the middle of July before I sent my first lot of cabbages to market, and realized, from two hundred and twenty heads, five cents each. A.s soon as my tomato vines were done bearing, I had them pulled up, and put one side in one pile and threw some dirt over them, hoping to have a little manure out of them. I then made a brush-haiTOW, and scratched the ground over two or three times, and sowed turnip seed. In about four weeks from my first sale of cabbages I had disposed of the whole crop, receiving for four hundred heads four cents, two and one-half cents for three hundred heads, and two and one-half cents for two lots of two hundred each. The re- mainder did not mature, while some I had used myself or given away. This crop was all oft' by the first of August, and I sowed this ground also to turnips. an ii 34 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; My ganlen was now turned into one tiimip-fieUl, and, as I had little or no work to do, I had a few leisure hours for recreation and meditation. The ftrst of September was soon at hand, and with its arrival I should make out my first year since I had broken loose from my old routine, and given my ideas a larger and more piactical scope. September is, in fact, the beginning of the year to all cul- tivators of the soil, of all branches. Fall sowing, preparations for winter, housing of plants, and laying out of plans for a summer's work are then perfected. Moreover, it is the best time to take obscx /ations, and establish the prospects of the future upon a basis of the past experience. And, accordingly, was it not the most fitting time for me to consider the profit or loss of my first experi- ment as a gardener ? So hastily conceived and so quickly executed, little time had been permitted me for sober reflec- tion during the entire summer. It was here, there, thus and e , and this the one needed and that the other demanded, as quick as ever it could be accomplished. Time and labor could only be given to meet all the wants, leaving no time unoccupied for meditation or observation. Now I could review these scenes and study their results while they were fre^h in my memory, and receive the lessons they taught. - ....■■ But a year before, I was as ignorant of i.b.''? business as a young child who has never seen the country. There are, however, very few children who have noi boen in the coun- try, and have a general idea of what it is; but many a country child knows not of the city, and I trust many of them may never witness or indulge in its evils, i- I AND HOW I MAHK IT. 35 ■s ( But in neither case are the stern realities of life more realized or understood than the duties of a mechanic are by the merchant. I might extend the comparison to the major- ity of men ; for how vast and deep are the ways and respon- sibilities of every member of humanity ! The city people all like to go to the country for pleasure, but few can ever arrive at the real merit of country life, save they have had a hand in the workings thereof. In my new avocation I was neither in the country nor the city, strictly speaking, but I had be- gun to taste some of its more stern realities. In experience and knowledge I had been transformed, and theunjaralleled enthusiasm and egotistic confidence with which I had started out was now toned down to a proper level, while my deter- mination of purpose increa.sed as the other supports fell cff. I found that, when I had thought I knew much, I knew but little, and that there was something to be learned every day I lived ; and eventually I became an humble but eager in- quirer after knowledge, which course I continue until this day. My first year's experience was nothing like what I had expected ; for my enthusiastic anticipations had led me to build large profits too quickly and 'upon too premature a foundation. But whatever Avere the disappointments or encouragements of that first year, or their causes, I can sim- ply say, taking it all in all, it was a dear experience ; and yet, dear as it was, if I were to-day without that experience, no amount of money could atone to me for it, and I think it is a chance if I had been able to recount these scenes from the stand-point I now occupy. It is well said that no person can carry on two occupa- tions successfully at one time. To this fact I may attribute 36 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. a partial cause for some of ray drawbacks, which, in another light, I might not call poor success. The manner in which I had thus employed my spare time had been very conducive to ray health and happiness. My mind was fully occupied as well as ray hands, and I began to think I should bless the day when my last turnip was sold and all my affairs settled up. But when that day came, rest was not acceptable ; for, without my labor and the complete occupation of my mind, I was lost, and longed again for active pursuit. Such is human nature, — never satisfied ; never contented. No sooner are our wishes granted than we long for something else. Thus, when the summer's carapaign was finally closed, and tiie first few days had worn away, I was again up and at it, as will be seen in succeeding chapters. My health was very much improved, as my weight would testify. My face was somewhat tanned, and I could not show any lily white and soft hands ; but what was all that, compared with niy grand result ? Had I not accomplished ray purpose ? Had I not planned and executed my own work, and brought it to a successful issue ? Is there no satisfaction in all these things? Try it! Make something by your own efforts, and see if you do not realize a degree of satisfaction beyond a precedent in your history. I was fond of ray own work and achievements, as every man naturally is ; not given to boasting, neither, having accomplished one good work, so lost in the admira- tion of it as to forget to do another. T ^ work and do something for yourself, to achieve a name or au honor by your own ingenuity, and honorably, are the noble and advancing strides of a civilized people ; and such a people are among those who boast of an American birth. CHAPTER VI. FIGURES DO LIE— PLAN OF SEASON— MY TRIAL BALANCE— MY PROFITS— SUMMARY OF BENEFITS NOT ESTIMATED BY DOLLARS AND CENTS. I HAVE read a great many books, professing to give practical instruction, based upon facts and figures; but I find that figures can be made to lie as well as tell the truth. When I was a boy, thoy were wont to tell me figures could not lie ; but now I am grown up, and see very quickly that figures are very often induced to lie, and are thus productive of very serious results. Many persons, innocent and unworthy of ill-treatment, have been robbed of their A-ery last dollar and made miserable for life ; their ambition stunned, and their courage thwarted, and thus left to drag out an in- describable existence of poverty and woe, merely by the skilful manipulation of figures in the hands of avaricious and grasping persons whose conscience admits of no moral law. In most agricultuaal books we find more or less of their state- ments based upon figures, and some very poorly substantiated. I have yet to see that book in print which gives a clear and detailed account of every income and outgo. Until then I can hardly credit the author's facts, unless I give them a thorough examination ; for some weak spot is almost sure to be found, or something omitted which, if .shown up in a coiTcct trial 88 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; balance, -would completely disan-ange their previous state- ments. In view of these facts, I would not undertake to give any of my figures, if I did not think I could satisfy the reader with a correct statement of every disbursement, as well as every source of income. In attempting therefore to give the reader a summary of my first year's experiment, I have appended a general statement of my accounts as they arc to be found upon my books, — a set of which I always kept with the same precision and care as when it was my only occupation in the employ of others. In so doing, I have not, from any delicacy, as many writers have, omitted my personal, or what may be termed, my family expenses. It may seem commonplace and inappropriate to this stoiy ; yet it is to my mind requisite and necessary, in order to show a true and just statement. My first half year was solely one of preparation ; yet I date my year from the first of September, which is not only the true beginning of the cul- tivatoi''s year, but was the time when I first started upon my plans, and without a dollar of capital. My first half year 1 have entitled the preparatory season, and the latter the active season. By such a statement it may seem easy to con- duct the business so long as the result comes out to a profit. At the commencement of the preparatory season I had nothing ; at its close I had saved seventy dollars with which to commence the active season. My rent alone would more than cover this amount, but I arranged to pay that in monthly instalments, and mj' crops so came in as to relieve me from any tempoiary embarrassment. I ask a careful con- sideration of the following statements of my first year's work: — ■ I •!i '^-^ AND HOW I MADE IT. 39 FIRST YEAR. TRIAL BALANCE. Preparatory Seasmi. Salary, first six months, from business in New York, . . ^00 00 Paid for board and washing, .... $194 00 " transportation and incidentals, . . 24 50 " clothing (economized), . . . . 100 00 agricultural books and papers, . . 11 50 Net savings six months, Active Season. a Balance brought down, Sales of lettuce, . " radishes, " tomatoes, " cabbages, turnips, . Salary six months in New York, Inventory, tools, baskets, etc.. Total receipts, Paid for rent, fertilizers, 100 loads (? 25 garden tools, ploughing, tomato plants. g a!ig? fe''.^sa»i«!ft^ ■ :-%:. .J 40 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAKj Balance to credit of bank first year, Deduct savings from salary, 381 14 140 00 Net profit of half an acre, 8241 14 This to many would seem a veiy small amount in return for all the trouble I had experienced. It was not quite as satisfactory to me as I had washed; but, after reviewing it all, I thought it quite a respectable income, considering the source from which it emanated. Two hundred and forty-one dollars was a small amount of monev ; but to me, in those times when I was never able to save or make money beyond enough for my necessary expenses, it was a considerable item. The experiment undertaken had proved of more value than any savings bank. It is well for the clerk or the laboiing man to lay aside a portion of his income every month against future Avants, when he can faithfully adhere to it ; but in nine cases out of ten it is never carried out, and even then of what value is the small amount he can thus accumulate towards inspiring him with ambition, and encouraging him in his business, or in giving him the buoyant plea.sure of success upon his own responsibility ? It appears to me more like the unfaithful steward, who went and hid Avhat his lord g;ive him, lest he should not be able to return it after many days. The faith- ful steward put his money where it gave him good returns, and when his lord came paid it back with usury. My savings of a year could not have possibly been more than one hundred and forty dollars, with a small interest of five per cent. What a savings bank Mother Kirth had been to me ! I had deposited in her treasury one hundred and U AND HOW I MADE IT. 41 ()> forty dollars, and received in interest the sum of two hund- red and forty one-dollars, with the original. ■ Looking at it in another light, the percentage of my profits on the capital I had invested was very large in proportion to any other business. Very few classes of wholesale business or manufactories ever expect to make more than ten or twelve per cent, on their capital, while retail stores average from twenty to forty per cent, profit on their sales. In some instances as high as fifty and one hundred per cent, are made. M^'- profit in percentage was nearly two hundred per cent. This was a process resembling in its results com- pound interest. It was turning over my money two or three times in a single season ; and I ask you to show me a more complete or compact banking or commercial process within the control of one person than this. Again, it is universally acknowledged that he who sets out to till the soil errs greatly in expecting a profitable re- turn from the first year's labors. So strong is this belief in general that it has become a fact undisputed. This fact I had in mind, and my expectations were somewhat guided by it, although it was my intention to disprove it if possible. I failed, however, to substantiate it, and proved that it would admit of some variations. It depends entirely upon what you undertake, and how you manage it. I can see no more chance for latitude here than in any mercantile pursuit, and if ordinary good judgment, accompanied with determined execution, is exercised, there is no more, nor as much, chance for a failure. As an experiment, it had produced strong evi- dence, beyond a doubt, that with more extended fields a lar- ger and more profitable result could be attained. The great I 42 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. n i i fault with farmers generally is to possess and work large farms, and, consequently, they do not receive as much at- tention in proportion as those of a less number of acres. Every person should therefore be governed by the rule of cause and effect ; and as the labor they have to devote to the complete tilling of one acre is to its profitable results, so will their labor, proportionately increased to the number of acres they have, be to a similar proportionate profit. Again, the experience I had acquired, if it were possible to estimate it in dollars and cents, would form a large item in my balance-sheets, and an equally large portion of stock on hand for a future season. Personally, my health was so much improved ' ' ^ could hardly believe myself to be the same person. ^} i nothing so beneficial to any one's health as free, open-air exercise and regular habits. To a robust and stiuig li^ dis ^ i^ion and iiTegular indulgences are sadly detrimental. Summing up all these results, what more encouragement could I have ? What greater incentive to action ? It is true I was not yet sufficiently able to enlarge to a very great extent my enterprise ; but patience and perseverance I was confident would at no distant day crown my efforts with success, and I should be no longer a hired menial, subser- \'ient to the wliims and fancies of moneyed men for my ex- istence. •.r:,'V CHAPTER VII. A NEW YEAR — ANOTHER WORLD — ORIGIN OF THOUGHTS — FLOR- ISTS — WHAT I LEARNED — A GREENHOUSE — HOW IT WAS BUILT — COST OF GREENHOUSE. A NEW year had dawned upon me, and a second year's work was in prospective. As to what it should be I had not fully determined. Perseverance and application during my first year's trial were all that ensui'ed to me what success I had received. As an experiment, it had practically demonstrated the possi- bility of increased success, according to the ability I should devote to it. Unlike other business, I was not obliged to wait for a customer to drop in to buy of what I had to sell. I was not at all dependent upon the state of trade, nor did I have to hobnob witli friends to influence their custom, slight as it might be. Mother Earth was all with whom I had to deal for my success. The prospects of a winter before me at first appeared rather pleasant, as I felt a need of recreation from my duties for my overworked mind ; but as the month of September began to wear wearily away, each day began to grow longer. My ambition relaxed. I did not feel that strong stimulation which moved me on, and gradually I began to long for I 44 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; i i I :1 something with which to occupy my mind. It is with great anticipation of pleasure that those few days of vacation from the close confinement and harrowing business cares, which the young clerk is granted once a year, are looked forward to. I used to look upon it as a boon of happiness ; but alas ! a few days of participation would suffice, and, notwithstand- ing all the pleasure and rest I derived, I found myself often wishing myself back again in my old routine. I could not bear to be idle, for to me it was the hardest work I could perform. The cause was plainly attributed to the lack of anything with which to occupy my mind, and such were my feelings during the first weeks of September. Unable to endure this feeling, I began to look around for some means that I might avail myself of, for the more proper occupation of my thoughts and spare hours, which would help me on in the course I had begun. Not but that there was an abun- dance of ways with which to pass my time, in convivial pleasures, among my numerous friends, in so large a city ; but a feeling possessed me to be no longer wasting my time in that from which I derived only temporary enjoyment and pleasure, but to be laying up for myself something more tan- gible for the gi'eat future before me. I was at a loss, for some time, to devise anything that was within my reach or circumstances. We are all occasionally subject to loss of friends in this world, who pass to another and happier abiding-place ; and though bereaved at parting with them, their departure always brings with it many beneficial lessons, not only as warnings of the inevitable result of all our struggles and triumphs in this life, but of the hope of a brighter home above. Upon such occasions it is the custom of presiding clergymen to AND HOW I MADE IT. # attempt to rekindle anew within us a true sense of what we are, and to inculcate in our hearts lessons of a deep and moral nature. No person, perhaps, was more keenly sensible to such truth than myself, with the strong and naturally sympathetic disposition I possessed. I could not deny the deep impression it made upon me, when attending the last sad rites devoted to a long and cherished friend, for whose loss I had been called to mourn. But these thoughts were not all which occupied my mind ; for I was yet a mortal, and susceptible to all the scenes and incidents of a young and active life. I \ iewed with pleasure the affections displayed by the relatives of the deceased, in the neat and silver-tipped burial-case, made more heavenly and beautiful by the profuse adornments of flowers and wreaths, composed of many varieties which I observed were quite out of their season, and as I turned from the grave, musing upon the uncertainties of life and the vanities of this world, these facts became blended with the flowers I had just observed; for, like flowers, we spring up and have our day, we bloom and fulfil our mission, and then pass away from this earth to be no more. But flowers, I thought, are not always in season, and yet I distinctly remembered beholding these emblems of purity ofttimes before, upon similar occa- sions, when the chilling and howling bla<^ts of winter were having their reign unchecked. From whence, then, were these immortals procured, since they could not live when all other vegetation succumbed to the ruling tempests 1 True, from the all-wise and merciful Giver of all things ; but it must be through the agency of man. Seemingly shameful for man thus to gather his spoils from 11 i 46 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; the dead. But a moment, — had 1 not seen them under other circumstances ? The opera, theatre, and other fashionable resorts were favored with them in such abundance as to be cast at the feet of tliose to whom they would tender a mark of appreciation ; and here was a lesson of observation, and, thus musing, I resolved to search out the human agency through which people were thus favored with such delicacies. What was most strange was that I should for years have passed over the same daily walk, and given no more than a passing notice to the many signs of florists which hung out over my p-^thway. But now, I was a cultivator of the soil, and I was interested ; before, I was blind, and saw not. I ventured to make a call of inquiry, and the kind and genial manner with which I was received, and the free and willing manner in which they imparted all information desired, rather pleased me, and I said, surely these men are not men, — so unlike the crabbed, selfish, and reticent persons with whom my life had been passed. No tricks of trade, and no secrets with them which they feared to tell lest it should damage their interests, as among marcantile professions, did I find, as, one after another, their long glass houses I visited, filled with every variety of choice and rare plants. The more I saw, and the more I learned, the more I was })ressed to venture my bark upon this stream. My lease would not ex- pire until April, and I could easily continue my experiment upon another tack. It was the last week in September, and a little late; but, with speed, I was advised that I could succeed. From that moment I was a florist ; but there was to be no might succeeds with me, for I was going to succeed. My first work, then, as a florist, was to gather in all my articles not needed during the winter, and place them under 1 AND HOW 1 MADK FT. 47 i shelter ; then lay out my ground for the erection of a small greenhouse, the building and stocking of which would be my first and gi'eatest expense. Plans of various kinds of greenhouses were consulted and studied out. Those which seemed most practicable were attended with an expen.se far beyond my raea'";*. I was, therefoie, thrown upon ray own resources, and planned my own way out. A greenhouse that should be cheap and good for a season was all that I needed, for, in all probability, I shouk' have to remove it from the premises in April. It was the twenty-fourth day of Septemh)er l)efore I broke ground as a florist. The most requisite step was to mark out m3' ground to allow the greenhouse to stand north and south, the object being to give me a good southern expo.sure, thus securing the full effect of the sun's rays the entire day. I laid out a piece of ground forty feet long and eleven feet wide, which I contracted to have excavated to the depth of two feet for twelve dollars, including the setting of twelve common oak fence-posts ten feet apart on each side and two on each end. These I sawed off" to within three feet of the level of the gi'ound. Upon them I placed a skeleton roof, or frame of rafters. This left me a space of four feet between each, for which I ordered sash to fit, and attached every other one with a leather hinge that I might tilt theiu up when necessary for ventilation. The sides I then boarded up tight, and threw the earth up against them even with the eaves, to keep out frost. At one end I built a little work- shop and potting-house, ten by twenty, and twelve feet high, making a little loft for storage. This was a skeleton b"dlt principally of boards, and board roof, with the cracks bat- tened up. 1 i m 41, *■ a^»i 48 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; Here was my cosy little greenhouse complete in two days, and as I walked through it I thought it almost good enough to live in. Upon the inside I had five feet clear in height and four and one-half feet bench room on each side, leaving a passage-way of two feet. This gave me three hundred and sixty feet of bench room, and just room enough left to work with ease, but none to spare for visitors. I procured a large stove or heater, and ])laced it in the workshop and ran the pipes all around under the benches, at a cost of sixty-seven dollars. But one thing was now wanting to make it complete for operations, which was water, and the means of applying it. The facilities of the city for this indispensable are not suffi- ciently prized, it being so easily brought into the house and into any room we like ; but in this instance I appreciated the fact, and straightway availed myself of the privilege, and had pipes laid connecting with the main and brought it into my workshop at an expense of twenty-five dollars, and with hose so adjusted that I could shower all the benches in a very few minutes. Believing everything now complete, I invited in Mr. Clarke, a fiorist, who had been exceedingly kind to me, to point out any deficiency I had overlooked. He acknowledged everything perfect, but suggested a coat of whitewash all over my glass roof upon the inside, as he said the rays of the sun would be more evenly diversified, and besides its sharp- ness sometimes would prove injurious. I adopted his sug- gestion forthwith, believing " an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure." My expense thus far was as folows: — AND HOW I MADE IT. 4f) , For saahes and glass, " labor excavating, . . " carpenter's work, " posts, lumber, etc., . " heater and pipes, " hose and water pipes, !^20 ; incidentals, ^o, Total cost of greenhouse, . . , . «240 IK) This was my first and j/reatest expense, and the first of October found all in trim, although my pocket was somewhat liglitened, and I had but one Imndred and eighty-one dollars left as working (•oj)ital. 1 was contriving to economize on my salary, and by spring, seventy dollars from this source would be added to my capital. The days began to grow a little bleak, and the variegated colors of the foliage on every hand were but the forerunner of the cold and dreary winter yet to come. My castle was built, and what cared I for rude winter's chilly blasts ? Time and tide wait for no man, and so I hasted away to stock my little greenhouse, under the advice and direction of my friend Clarke, the florist. w : ■■ ■ ^ ' . ■':.:■( ■ ■ •;-: :' : ?: • ■■■; ^ n- ,; i,if..,r^- -j; -'.': ■„■ :i:'' -,-. .^" •.: " -'- ^ . : .. ■ .:- -■■^:^ ■:■, v-.^i^-f •;■:<• ' ■ ' ' '• '■ ■ ^f' ■ ■'■■"•■• ■ ■!-■■■' . .;'.^:',:i,;.j' '\ By referring to the cost of the greenhouse, it will be seen that the oxpense of building it had covered all the profits of the summer's labors within one dollar. The cost of stock for the same covered all the savings of my salary for one year within one dollar. According to the figures, then, there were left just two dollars as working capital. The difficultj' was somewhat obviated, the whole amount of cost of the plants purchased from Mr. Clarke not being required down, and which favor left about eighty dollars, capital on hand. This was quite a risk, although no greater in proportion than the lisk taken in the summer, yet there was this difference : Flowers were a new and strange pro- duct, and I was not as confident of success in my undertaking as in the summer. My first effort met with very l^ad luck ; for I had but just got everything set out, when I found my plants, some of them all wilted down, and came very near losing every one. Calling in Mr. Clarke at once, he saw at a glance that I had neglected to water them after transplant- ing them. It was quite fortunate to discover it, even at the last moment, and with the combined skill and experience of friend Clarke, I acting as his servant in everything, we suc- ceeded in restoring them to life in a few days. Very for- tunately, extreme cold weather did not set in until the last of October, and thus a greater loss was not suffered. I was immediately thereafter subjected to a sharp lecture from Mr. Clarke, upon carefulness and observation, which I shall never forget. It was worthy of emanating from a greater philoso- pher, and contained sentiments well adapted to people of all classes of business. Were it not for my poor memory I would give it in full ; \ AND HOW I MADE IT. 53 V but, suffice it to say, I was forced to make up my mind that thereafter I would try and attend more closely to my busi- ness. The first few weeks were weeks of gi'eat anxiety, fearing lest again, by some little carelessness, some trifling attention might be overlooked which would be of vital importance to the little army of plants now under ray con- trol. One great precaution necessary was to have the right temperature at all times ; and this was no easy task, as may be imagined, where such a variety of plants were growing under one roof, and nearly every one reijuiring a difierent grade of temperature. Large florists manage so as to have but one or two varieties in one house, and thus the tempera- ture is more easily graded to the re([uircments of the plant. The temperature prescribed for heliotropes upon a sunshiny day is seventy-five degrees, for cloudy days sixty-five de- gi'ees, and sixty degrees during the night, — a variation from which of more than five degrees at any one time might be productive of sad resiUts ; while violets required but sixty degrees in sunshine and fifty-five degrees in cloudy weather and some of my other plants called for seventy-five degrees in sunshine. Each variation, therefore, would recpiire ven- tilation or increase of heat, thus making care and watchful- ness the most necessary of all things. Being unprepared to acconnnodatc all my plants in all their requirements the matter was compromised, and the temperature adjusted as follows : seventy degrees for sun.shinc, sixty-five degrees for cloudy Aveather, and sixty degrees by night. For variation of tenqjci'atine at extreme end of the greenhouse five degrees were allowed, and the plants arrn:\<^ed in such manner a« to bring those reijuiring mo.st heat nearest to the heater, and those reiiuiring least heat, such as violets, at the far end. A ^ 54f FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; thermometer, accompanied by a card marked with these variations, hung at each end of the house for convenience and safety. This constant care required some person in attendance during my absence througli the day, after the cold weather set in and tires had been started. During the night I slept in the workhoiise, having a bed made up there ; and, having accustomed myself to sleep with very light covering, if the temperature went down too low I was sure to wake This was all very well arranged and can-ied out ; but soon I found that faithfulness was not always to be had for money. The first boy thought more of play than attend- ing to his business, and I was forced to make several changes, and thereby several times came near other losses. At last, a faithful boy was obtained ; but having had my confidence so much shaken by the instability of his predecessors, I could not place as much reliance upon him as he was worthy of In some of my purchases there had ]»een thrown in a few fuchsias, in which I took a special delight ; for they were a novelty in themselves, and there were just enough to give experience in growing them, and add a little variety to my .stock. A few of the lessons I was obliged to learn, and which are, as they say at school, the " rudimentar}' principles" of floriculture, may not come amiss in this place. First of all is temperature, upon which I have already dilated at length. The next important is the proper »\'atering of plants. It will not answer to dash a pail of water all around, as you would water a tree or vine, for these are delicate. It should be done by means of a fine sprinkler, attached to the end of the hose or watering-pot, thus resembling a drizzling shower or AND HOW I MADE IT. 55 mist in its application. Neither should the water be too cold. When watering, it should be done thoroughly, and if in pots, fill them full ; but never water a plant unless it re- quires it, and then only in the morning, and when the sun is shining, if possible. About twice a week water should be used, previously saturated with guano, or some good fertilizer, and applied with a watering-pot. Another important item is the keeping in subjection all insect life, which can be ac- complished in no better way than by fumigating once or twice a week. Tobacco is best for this purpose. Weeds wUl grow here as well as elsewhere, and too much care can- not be exercised to keep them clear, and the more carefully they are watched, the easier it will be to keep the plants in eood order and looking well. 1 t I. ,1't .•;<•/. M V* X»»':A M r, '.■'.■ •f 1 / . .'1' 1 :■■ ''';■{'' ■v-l Ml .'' < ' Ji'' V .f.<''' CHAPTER IX. / MARKETING FL0WP:RS — WHAT THEY BROUGHT — RESULTS OF ■ ' winter's work. ! u The first few weeks were necessarily weeks of great anxiety, unaccustonied as I was to the cultivation and growing of such delicate plants ; and especially at a time and in a man- ner contrary to their nature, and knowing that the least amount of carelessness on my part might cast away all that had been ventured in them, which was truly my all. Thus was my new-found occupation continually the source of much unc;u;lness and fear, and it was some considerable time before a feeling of perfect control in their management was given me. Graduallj'- one after another of the plants sprang \ip into active life, and with them my confidence was slowly restored. As late as the first of November no returns whatever were received, and expense was still the ruling item, which was increased by the cold weather with which the month was ushered in, and the necessity of starting fires. Coal and wood, to the amount of twenty-four dollars, were laid in at once, and preparations for the winter blasts now upon me were fully made. In a few days many of the ])lants began to disclose miniature buds as signs of flowering. Among the first to unfold its colored petals was the violet ; but these were few, and mostly some which were more for- FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. 57 ward in the transplanting. In the middle of the month I ventured forth to find a market, with a few flowers in a bas- ket upon my arm. These had been picked and thrown into the basket with- out much assorting, and, a market being found, I could scarcely get any price at all. The great detriment was the careless manner in which I had put them up and in which I had offered them for sale. A good lesson was learned, how- ever, and I received kindly the advice given about packing them in parcels, assorted, and all of a kind in a parcel. The next lot was sent in better shape, and met a more ready sale. In view of the approach of the holidays, a greater demand was apparent, and the prices were gradually rising, At this time it was a matter of no little importance that I should have clear weather and sunshine for the development of my flowers, for without it I would have none. After a pleasant day, evenings were spent in the greenhouse cutting and as- sorting the flowers, which I placed in a basket, the bottom of which had been first covered with moss, and dampened. This retained the moisture, and kept the flowers in good condition until they reached the market. Travelling to the city every day, I carried my basket of flowers and delivered them in the morning, receiving the money therefor. After a cloudy day, having no flowers to cut, the time was devoted to weeding and other necessary work to assist the growth of the plants. I append beloM' one or two samples of what I canied to market nearly every day, from the first of December to the first of February. The following was marketed the first of December, and was as small a bill of flowers as I had during the winter. It consisted of: — 58 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR I I 250 violets, @ $1.00 per hundred . 5 doz. heliotropes, @ 26 cents per doz. 2 " tea-roses, ©50 " " 3 " bouvardias, @ 25 " " 92 50 1 26 1 00 75 $5 50 As the holidays drew near, and fi-om that time until the last week in January, prices rose very high, and my receipts often ran as high as eighteen dollars and twenty dollars per day, depending, of couise, upon the quantities I brought. It was necessary to exercise great care, so as to bring a good and saleable assortment each day. Many of the little details connected with their culture, and the manner of treatment of all the plants to favor and develop them and bring out the flowers, would not be admissible within so limited a space. A good florist., of experience, to advise with, is more preferable in this case than any book theory, and I must content myself, therefore, with giving the accountof my suc- cess, rather than attempt to give the details of my work. The following is a copy of a bill sold January fifth, and the largest in amount I disposed of that season : — 400 violets, @ $1.25 per hundred . 7 dozen tea-roses, @ $2.00 per dozen, , G " heliotrepes, ® 40 cents per dozen, 4 " heaths, ® 30 5 " japonicas, @ 25 4 " tuberoses, @ 1.20 3 " carnations, @ 30 2 " fuchsias, & 75 1 " bouvardias, @ 20 (i Total, 85 00 14 00 2 40 1 20 1 25 4 80 90 1 50 20 93] 25 AND HOW I MADE IT. My average daily receipts for the entire two months was $6.48 1. This was without any allowance for expenses. There seemed no particular limit, which could be depended upon, with plants, as to the number of buds and flowers each would yield, neither do all plants yield alike. Some bear profusely, and others not at all ; while many of the same kind will bear flowers, and others will bear none at all ; as an instance of the latter, not more than one half of my tea- roses yielded any flowers at all. A tea-rose plant will generally give from six to twenty buds, if any at all. Carnations yield from ten to fifty, and bring nom two to four cents each. Nearly all plants must have their appointed season of rest. Even as man requires sleep, so the vegetable kingdom must have its repose from labor to prepare it for future healthy and vigorous life. Flower-bearing plants, if cultivated in the summer, must rest in winter, according to the all-wise dispensation of Pro- vidence ; and, to perfect this natural law, plants cultivated out of season must rest in season ; and that this work may go successfully forward great care is necessary, to put them in a proper condition to keep them and retain them inactive and healthy. As the plants in the greenhouse had nearly closed the labor I had forced upon them, I was now long and busily engaged in removing the bulbs and I'oots, and prepar- ing them for rest while I introduced bedding plants, for transplanting early in the spring to open ground. I had at this time no idea of giving up my ground the coming shim- mer, thinking I could re-lease it without difficulty, and pro- posed to have plants much earlier than the previous season. My expenses and receipts from the flower busineas stood as follows : — 60 i ;, FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. Receipts from sale of flowers, Paid boy for ten weeks, @ $2.00, " for fuel, .... " car- fare and ex-selling, " " tools, etc. . " " fertilizers, etc. , Interest on investment. Net profit. $20 00 40 00 22 20 15 00 15 00 5 60 8401 98 $117 80 $284 18 Thus closed my winter's labors quite satisfactorily, with a greater gain than had I been idle ; besides, I had the advan- tage of a greenhouse for propagating my early buddincr plants. ° '.'/wii-' '. •-:(■! ,.,,. : ■ ! ^M.t - -./.li > : I UV H7!'. 'if;:ru J.-;' r ,».*i|iij' CHAPTER X. BEDDING PLANTS— SPRING WORK— SUMMEU CROPS— SECOND year's balance. , ;-:, f -i,; By the first week in February my greenhoase >jcnches were all cleared, the bulbs all stored in a dry place, and potted plants set jvside for the season. The next work was that of removing the soil upon the l)enches, which wle to all kinds of business Avith much success. A wise philosopher has said that a penny saved is two pence earned ; but alas : how few appear to follow this rule '. With eager interest I watched for the first signs of life from the seeds I had sown, and a week's time was sufticient to gratify my anticipations in that respect. ... Until they -ook good root, not much care was recpiired to keep the weeds under .subjugation. Alx>ut the first of March 62 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; I began to thin out the smallest, thus allowing those more forward to mature more rapidly, and to a greater perfection. By the first of April I had as fine a lot of plants oh I had ever seen ; and as far superior to what I had purchased the previous spring as anything well could be. I at once adver- tised my planes, and found a very ready sale for them. Many persons came the second time, and sent others ; while many purchased double the quantity they had intended, because they looked so well, as they would say ; until I was unable to supply the demand without robbing myself Being also about the first in market, I had a gieat advantage over others. My lease was now expiring, and I must enter upon some new arrangement, if possible, and this was a fitting time, while my stock could be disposed of readily if neces- sary. It had not entered my head, however, that I could not secure my ground tanuther season. What was my surprise then, when, upon applying to my landlord for a renewal of my lease, I received a flat denial ! His only excuse was, he intended to build in the fall, and did not want me in the way ; after some considerable per- suasion, however, I secured a lease until September first, by paying seventy-five dollars for the six months. From my greenhouse I had sold five thousand tomato plants at fifty cents per dozen, and two thousand lettuce at twenty-five cents per dozen ; leaving an abundance for my own use. Reviewing the labors of the previous season and their results, and knowing my plants were so advanced as to bring my tinick into a much earlier market, and also having in view the limitation of my lease, I resolved to rest my labors with the two crops, lettuce and tomatoes, and perhaps sow- ing turnips as an after crop. AND HOW I MADK IT. V ■ > ' 1 I The same labor was required, the same difficulties to bo met, and the same obstacles to be overcome, and just as many weeds to fight this season a.s last. The weather was more dry, and to meet this I brought the hose from my greenhouse into active service. . • • .cii < ,' i I had discharged my boy, and hired a man, upon the first of May, at fifty dollars per month. The yield of my crop was perceptibly no larger this year ; but witli increased facilities and more help, with more advanced and better plants, I was enabled to reach an earlier market. The first marketing was fully two weeks in advance of last year, and five hundred heads of lettuce brought me twelve cents each. My greenhouse was filled with a fresh supply as soon as the first were sold, and then I transplanted to open ground as fast as I sold my crop off, which brought me a fair second crop ; a second marketing of fifteen hundred heads brought eight cents each, and five hundred more subsequently brought five cents. The second crop brought me two cents each for two thousand heads. Early in June I had marketed one hundred baskets of tomatoes at one dollar and seventy-five cents per basket ; a week later, another hundred brought me one dollar ; the balance I sold on the vines for twenty dol- lars. By the middle of July my grounds were all cleared and sowed to turnips, the last crop of the season. At this time I discharged my help, as a matter of re- trenchment in expenses, and worked out the rest of the season alone. My operations on this little farm were now drawing to a close, and soon I must bid adieu to this familiar spot, after two seasons of the most pleasant and encouraging associations of my whole life. Here had I nourished my II 64 I FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; cherished plans into action, and brought them to a successful issue. I had clearly proved something could be done to alleviate my condition by my own exertions. It must be carried further, but not here ; a new field with wider scope I must find, and devote myself anew to more extended labors At this point, it is perhaps most fitting to sum up the labors of tliese two eventful years in my history, as I draw to a close the scenes in and about this little half-acre plot, every portion of which I had learned well to know. Starting then with the balance I had on hand at the close of my first year, I give my : . , . i.; . ..j i ■ i SECOXD YEAK'S TRIAL-J BALAXOE. Balance from first j-ear. , $381 14 Sale of flowers, . $401 98 " bedding plants, . . 378 (X) " lettuce. . 2G5 00 " tomatoes, . . , . 295 GO ** turnips. . 28 00 > Salary, . . . . . 800 00 2,167 93 ? Inventory of greenhouso. . 200 00 " stock. . 200 00 " tools, • • 60 00 $3,009 12 BXPKN.SES. Cost of greenhouse. $240 00 ■ • " stock, 160 00 ** running greenhouse, . 117 80 .- ' . : for fuel, . 24 OC ■ ..; * ■■. " seed, . 15 00 ^ ■■! * , " " fertilizers, . 35 00 ** " ploughing, . 5 00 MMM AND HOW I MADE IT. 65 S Co3t for 100 new baskets, . 20 00 =■.,', " " labor 2^ months, . 125 00 'l " " transportation, 15 00 « " rent, . . 75 00 " " books, papers, etc.. 23 00 Wear and tear of tools, . . 28 00 Interest on investment, . . 12 56 Personal expenses, . . (;47 52 Sl,551 81 Amount of balance, . Deduct savings for 1 year. §1,457 14 152 44 balance on hand first year of, 381 14 8533 58 Net profits over expenses, $923 •>; By the above statement, it will be seen that the last year had exceeded the first by five hundred and forty-two dollars and fifty-two cents ; but as over six hundi'ed dollars were the result of my gi'eenhouse in flowers and beddinf^ plants, this would make the comparison in yield lower than the previous season. At this time, I had nearly fifteen hundred dollars in hand, and was just that amount better oft* in the world than eighteen months before, or I would have been if I had remained plodding on in my old accustomed way at my business in New York. Again, it will be seen, my net proceeds were just one hundred and twenty-three dollars in excess of my yearly salary, and all of this from a half-acre lot, by the exercise of a little gumption and forethought. While I regretted parting with my half acre, so much en- deared to me, I could not ui)on the whole say I was really sorry. It was evident the time had come when I was tu choose between two callinsrs. The latter had j, ved itself able for my support in as b 00 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. good style as my salary had formerly given me, than which for the presnt I would ask no better. At thjit time my suppoi-t was the all-important ([uestion, and which is clearly the vital question to all persons of small means ; for it is necessary, when among strangers in a stranf'e land, to know first how we are to live before we can afford to speculate or take any risks. Having this point accomplished, I felt confident an all-wise Providence would continue to guide me safely to the end. A larger field I must seek, and rely solely upon my labors, for I could not longer hold my pf)sition in the city, and give this business the attention which it merited. I had quite a little stock in trade, besides the greenhouse, which had cost me two hundred and forty dollars. All could be taken with me, except this, at a little exi)ense. To move the crreenhouse would cost me a hundred dollars, and an offer of two hundred dollars from my landlord was accepted for it. My stock of flowering plants had increased until they were really of more value than invoiced. All in all, all is well that ends vveil. mi CHAPTER XJ. REMOVAL — HUNTING UP A FARM— A FIVE-ACRE PLOT — people's curiosity — A CRYSTAL PALACE — HAPPY HOURS AND THOUGHTS. Upon the beginning of my third year, my first duties were to look np a farm suitable to my wants, whieh I found no easy tsusk. When I set out upon my search I found a sur- prising number of farms, all for sale ; but most of them were too large for n.y limited n oans ; while every small place of three or four acres, that was in any way eligibly situated, was held at a high figure, and so improved in many cases as not to meet my wishes. It was a curious circumstance to notice how eager every land-owner was to sell, and to hear the many absurd reasons for selling. The (juantities in mar- ket were enormous, and real estate agents were abimdant, with large books filled with descriptions of elegant country seats and farms for sale. Some could be had for one-fourth the money down, while others were ready to exchange for city property, merchanwise, or other traps. It seemed as if they all wanted anything rather than a country place on their hands. But one thing I saw very plainly, that they were anxious to get a better barj^ain than thoy had to give. City merchants, thriving mechanics, clerks, and evcTi country- bred people who had accumulated a little surplus money, G8 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; seemed to think the city was their only proper sphere. Many gave as reasons that their wives were not suited. How nice it is to have a wife's opinion to fall back upon, rather than boldly shoulder the responsibility one's self! Some found farming did not pay. Others had taken land to secure a debt, and wished to sell to realize their money ; others, tired of countrv life, wished to emljark in business in the city. Change of some kind aj^jwiared to be a monomaniac idea running rampant with all the country people ; and this was not surprising when real estate was bringing such high prices. It gives me pleasure to say. however, that there were some who appeared to appreciate country life, and who could not be induced to think of selling. There were api)arently two streams of emigiation, one to the city and another out of it ; but the former much exceeded the latter. Certainly they had never experienced the ]»erplexities of maintaining an existence* in an over-crowded city. Yet with all this I was not dis( 'Oil raged, nor to be thwarted in my plans. My lease had expired, and my stock was turned out of dooi-s, which must be s])eedily sheltered or else be lost. The past year had proved ray business adetjuate to my support, and as well might 1 go a distance as hover in the vicinity of the city. Accordingly I cast myself loose from my business in the city, anats, making the trip in twenty-four hours. This wa.s a desirable means of shipp.'ng AND HOW I MADE If. 69 produce, than which, combined with the facilities of the railroad, I could ask nothing better. The tract consisted of five acres, all tillable land, and was the portion set aside to the wife of a weil-to-do city merchant from her father's estate. After much talk I bargained for the place for six hundred and fifty dollars, two hundred dollars of which was t«) be paid down, the balance within three years, with inter- est. It had upon it one solitary house, which was rapidly going to decay and ruin, and an old shanty, which had been used for a horse and cow, being filled to their knees with old compost. It was a hard sight ; but it could be made very acceptable. The day I entered into possession I cast my eye around, and saw so much to be done that it was with diffi- culty I could determine what to conmience upon first. I was now my own master, and lord of all I surveyed. Hap- pily, the little furniture which I had owned several yearw, and used in furnishing my own room while boarding, came in good jtlay, and I at once set to work to domesticate my- self in the old house. Thanks to a kind mother, who had taught me when a boy, the maimer of preparing food, for thereby I was enabled to bring it into practice to advantage. With abundance of time, the duties were easily performed ; and if ever there was a hermit and a bachelor, there Avas one in that old house. This answered very well for a few weeks ; but 1 began to feel out of my sphere, as work out of doors drew Tuorc libe- rally upon my time, and I was induced t(» secino a house- heeper. My first day's work was performed in the kitchen cellar, cleaning out old ruV»bish, bottles, and decayed vegetables, to I 70 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAH ; I make it .a fitting receptacle for my stock of plants. This was really the hardest d.ay's work I had ; for my ambition led me to such an extent as to work beyond my physical sti'cngth ; and a h.vsson I learned, that if I would last long, life must be taken more easily, and labor according to my strength. Lumber and material for my new greenhouse had been ordered before leaving the city, and came with my other goods, together with sashes of a proper si/.e. In a word, I had duplicated the greenhouse previously built, only, instead of one I should build three side by side and one hundred feet long, with a potting and workshop upon the end. These I erected entirely alone, thereby saving some expense, and re- ducing the cost of the greenhouse to six hundred and twenty- eight dollars. My stock of plants had so increased as to occupy one whole greenhouse and one half of another. To this stock I added twelve varieties of verbenas, true to name, calcidating to pro})agate the plants from them for a spring market. Particulars of how I managed them will be given in another chapter. Having moved into a neighbourhood of entire strangers, I found them much more congenial companions than I hatl expected. Thv.'w curiosity was unbounded, surpassing, ap- parently, any other faculty they possessed. A country town is much given to gossip ; and not alone is it confined to the old ladies, but the men take up the cue, and few there are who do not only know all their neighbours for miles away, but everything in regard to them. I was a new-comer, and, of course was the subject of general inquiry for a tinui. The people among whom I had come were a sturdy set of old country people for generations back, with T AND HOW I MADE IT. 71 strong puritanical ideas ; following a long and safe distance in the rear of all improvements, believing thei." old ways best until others were well tried, caring well for every penny, and loth to take any risk, unless a sure return was clear to be seen. Thej had lived on for years in the same old routine as their fathers before them ; cultivating onions, ])otatoes, and grain, year in and year out. To them the new-comer was of no little importance, and as they drove their ox-teams by, they must come to a dead halt, step in, and have a talk. The l)uilding of my greenhouse set their eyes all wide open ; and upon me they pronounced every kind of bene- diction but success, and turning away, shaking their heads, they said, " Surely I was a very rash young fellow, putting so much money at so great great a risk in these glass houses, from which I could never get returns for niy laboi\ They had already heard that tlie city folk had wild ideas, and, indeed, I was a novelty. Why, this bent anything they had ever heard tell of, and they wouldn't l)elieve it, until they had come and seen it for themselves." I could not resist the temptation to laugh at them, for I paid no more heed to them than to so much wind ; and I kept jogging along, first with hammer, and saw, and plane, until I saw the comple- tion of my crystal palace ; then the fertilizers, with shovel and trowel, were brought into action, and my plants set out, bringing all my past experience, with suggestions of reason and judgment to bear ujton my work. This work completed, every day brought with it something new to do ; and I experienced a just pride in fixing uj) every convenience, and making all improvements within my power around my new home. I felt a degree of satisfaction unparalleled, in being the owner of my own ground, and felt that my labor was not , H FIVE THOUSAND A YEAH. lost. My mind was fully occupied, and thus happily days wore away into weeks, and weeks into months, through thick and thin, and bitter cold, until spring dawned, appar- ently before its time. ! t' s y > If) .: \ CHAPTER XIT. SALE OF FLOWERS — CULTURE OF THE VERBENA — ( l.TTINiiS — ROOT (.UTTIXGS — PROPAGATION. The season kept open late into November this year, and favored nie in not requiring fires and in a saving of fuel. In attention to my plants I was favored with my j ast expe- rience, and strove to remember all the lessons of friend Clarke ; for he was not near at hand now to run to in cases of emergency. My education as a florist was in no wise com- plete, although a winter's work had added many new facts to my store. The advantages of having daylight to work by were many, and duly appreciated ; and many otherwise idle hours were devoted to study and observation. With the middle of December came my first lot of flowers, which were earned to market in person ; and from this time until the middle of February, my average sales of flowers were eleven dollars and thirty-three cents per day. As be- fore stated, I had purchased a small stock of verbenas, and devoted much time to their propagation. It was with .some difliculty I found that these could V)e successfully cultivated, and I had entered upon an undertaking far more .serious than I had anticipated. With a good .stock to commence upon, cut- tings were taken from the mo.st healthy plants. Each was placed in small pots, and left to root. I soon noticed the soil ] n FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; in the pots became dry very quickly. I showered them plen- tifully with water, and then they became very dry, rather baked in appearance. If allowed to continue, this appeared to injure the growth of the plant. Then I was really puzzled as to what was best. Being in the city one day, I ran over and secured a little advice from old friend Clarke ; and when I returned home the plants all came out of the pots. As quick as ever it could bo done I made a soil, covered mostly with pure white sand, right upon the benches, which retained more moisture for a longer i)eriod, and kept the soil well soaked with water the first few days. More depends on carefulness if one would propagate success- fully, and a man who has had the management of a green- house for a season, with his eyes and ears open, will acquire n better theoretic and practical knowledge than could be obtained through the medium of books ; and, if of fair intel- ligence and naturally observing and studious, he can operate with success. For an amateur, the next best thing i.s to have some good friend of experience to advise with frequently. It is suggested, by an experienced florist, that the bot- tom of the beds should be spread three or four inches with refuse hops, tan-bark, or some such material well beaten down, and over this two or three inches of sand, giving, as a reason, that passing the heat through them from the steam pipes, which should run along under the benches, the heat becomes modified, and approaches more to that of the hot- bed. Although I agree perfectly with this writer, I did not at this time follow that practice, but simply spread my benches with sand from six to eight inches deep. Cuttings root fieely from slips taken from young wood ; but gi*eat AND now I MADE IT. f« ^ I -^ - importance should be given to the proi)er time for taking them. I think I may .safely say that if a Hroduce as healthy and vigorous a plant. Many Horists rlaiiu cuttings must Ix' niade at a joint; but in my experience I have ol^served the alM>ve rule to be of the most importance. Having prepared my bed of sand in one of my three houses, I raised the temperature of the soil to sixty-five degrees, which was indicated by plunging the thermometer into the .sand, to con*es])ond with which the atmospheric temperature was kept fifteen degrees less ; with a i-an;re of five degrees higher or lower; but I kept as near to sixty-five degrees Imttom heat and atmospheric temperature as near fifty degi'ees as possible at all times. Moisture and tem|)erature are the two principal conditions upon which the prompt and active life of the cuttings depend. In a few days there formed at the bottom of the cutting little bulbs, which I took out, and divided the end of the cutting into little pieces cme-half inch in length, which was covereecomes worthless for propagating, and only tends to invite the black rust- I W FIVE THOUSAND A YEAIl ; This excess of moisture only appeared necessary in the pro- f)agatiou of the verbena. By shadin^^' and good ventilation they arc less liable to becoGK) wilted. Shadinj^ is effected in different ways, by difierent florists, every one claiming his own way the best. Some u.se canvass thrown over the gla.ss, or bark -matting; some whitewash their gla.ss. A very good way, though in- volving some labor and expense, has been recommended, which is to make .screens of common lath, nailed one inch apait to frames made to fit the .sa.sh. The least expensive for me was the process of whitewa.shing, which |)rocess I have always followed, believing it fully a.s practicable and efficient as any. In about ten days the cu**'ngs wore all rooting finely, and then commenced the process of ))otting them off in pots, two and a half inches in diameter. The small roots, from one to one and a half inches in length, grew better, and ])ro(luced finer plants than those allowed to gi'ow longer. The latter became woody and hard, and did not strike down into the soil as freely as the others ; after which observation I con- cluded that it was a fact, of no little importance to the prop" agator, that the earlier they were potted after rooting, the better. After they were potted they wese set on a bench, covered about two inches with sand, and freely watered for some days with a sprinkling-pot, and treated in every way as if they were still on the propagating bench. If at this point they are allowed to wilt from drying, or excess of heat, they are liable to be sickly j)lants, and more susceptible to disease. As soon as these cuttings appeared to have taken root, and showed signs of life, I took care to keep them cool AND HOW I MADE IT. 77 ' J and abundantly supplied with air, by putting up or letting down thf sa.sh, keeping the temperature about forty to forty- five during the night, and ten degrees higher during the day. As soon as they acquired the proper condition, I again con- verted them into cuttings, ami repeated the process, — thu^s continually increasing my .stock. One of the greatest drawbacks to the cultivation of the verbena is called the black rust. This enemy, properly de- fined, is the verbena mite, — an insect so small that it cannot be seen by the naked eye, and when it lias once gained a foothold, it seems to defy all ettorts to di.slodge it. The fumes of tobacco, so destructive to all others, .seems to fall harm- less upon it. It has the power of imbedding itself in the leaf, and resists all attacks. The only remedy I have found is to keep the phmts in a healthy and vigorous condition, and thus the jilant is enal)led to repel it. Whenever a sickly plant appeared 1 would cut it ott", thus forcing a greater amount of the succulent juices into a smaller space, thereby increasing the strength of the plant. If I did not succeed thus in restoring the plant to a healthy condition, it would come out root and branch. Continued fumugation is of the utmost importance in the culture of all plants under gla.ss, but perfectly indispensable in the ca.sc of the verbena. It was my practice to fumigate all of my houses at least twice a week, and sometimes oftener, as a preventive to the ajdiis or green fly, which is very destructive. The ground or blue aphis is a very dangerous pest, its field of lied myself 1 s^^arted ploughing i\s soon as spring opened, which Avas not until the second week in Ai)ril. 1 had overlooked the fact that njy location was among the stony hills of Connecticut, and that I had anything more to do than plougli my land; but I soon fouiid it was folly to [)lough luitil I hail first built a stone sled of two thick j)lanks, and spent nearly a week in picking up anle garden for my own uso, and fodder for my hor.se.s. Being desirous of building up my family, and enter- ing into the realities of a farmei''s life, jus well au desirous of availing myself of the privileges accruing therefrom, by pur- chasing .1 few fowls, a pig, and a cow, — costing altogether one hundred and fifteen dollars, — I seemed to liave all that was necessary in the way of stock. With my »wn hanils I l»uilt a temjKirary barn, with acconunodations for tlie above- named tenants, at a cost, foi material, of twenty -six dollars. My neighhors a))pearetl now more hoi)eful, believing I had taken a few sensible steps for the first time during my sojourn among them ; but the storj of the profits from my gi'cen- house those (plaint ohi people could not exactly believe. I cannot say that I always made good bargains in all my purchases. One of my horses proved to be very balky, and, as I was afterwards informetl, had always been so, and the seller knew the fact wlien 1 ]>urcha.sed him ; but, with tnn- Yankee shrewdness, ' disposed to manifest this bad trait in his character, lb balked several times with itie at fij*st, and I noticed he always awaited his accustomed |)ounding ivith fear and trembling. Not })elieving in maltrejiting a dumb animal oi" any kind, his anticipations were never icajized at my liands. m FIVE THOc'SA SD A YEAH ; Wlnnt'ver h».' hliowcd tlu* disjiCsitiou of not perfonuiiig his share of tht; work, 1 would lay down the reins and pat him It little, putting my anus around his ncok, and talking to him gently and kin«Uy. The vicious look in his eye, on such occasions, would soon pass away, and his actions would then speak, as ]>lain as they well could, his appreciation of my kindness. After that it wf»uld need l>ut litt'e coaxing to per- suade him to perform his work as willingly as ever. This treatment tiinaMy cured him, and he has never balked once since the second month I oAvned him, and is to-day ono of the best working horses for miles around. So inuch for kindness to n opened very stormy, and it really appeared as if it was all rain and no clear days for over a month. Plants grew, and weeds grew more ; everjthing grew very fast, and gi'cw vigorously. 1 laid out two hundred dollars in manure, and worked hard to get everything in order, in the face of the weathei", and all other discounigements. These frequent showere not only dampened the ground, but also dampened my feelings very much. All things looked decidedly blue, and I felt very nmch like throwing up all I had undertaken. In conveiviing with the neighlwi-s, I found sympathy ; for they all felt the same v)eeame fit for Uiarket, which must he furnished means of transj)ortation, and ni.niy pre))aratiou8 for other coming crops engi'osscd my attention. I had no lack of sufficient ways to occupy my whole mind, and yet at no time felt overworked. Out-door exercise continuetl to agree with n ( perfectly, and was more plainly to be seen in it<» eifect upo my health, weight, and ;ippetite. Summer days came as a respite to the cold ana dreary days of winter, which seemed to Vkj enjoyed even hy the birds, for their musical notes always caught my ear tirst in the morning and when the day passed into night. I ■ii CHAPTER XIV. (LOSE OF THIRD YKAR — TRIAl.-HALANC'K. ^V? It will be unnecessary for me again to mention the tletails of the work and growth of my crops during the summer, for they were not mat aallj changed in the method of the!)- growing, nor wjus tliere any diffoienee in the nature of work required, althovigh it was greater in amount, anil rcfjuireil more labor to accoTn))li.sh it as ftticiently. Ueviewing my work from the first of September, I found I had been to a considerable expense, from moving and providing new stock and necessaries, which went to expense account, and all tend- ing to reduce the actual amount of profits. The amoimt of cash I had connnenced witli was more than exliausted in those outlays, and which in coming yeai-s would stand to the credit of income, if I met with similar success. Among these expenses may be named the first payment upon my new place. The hou.se, although needing repairs, had been allowed t(t remain uniniproved, except .so far as my own labor was brought into recjuision t^t make it comfortable. Mv greenhouse and veri)ena cuttings were an actual outlay, as well as my horses and live stock, — which would not again have to be supplied, — an (>ntire new outfit of tools for my work, a few household articles needed t<< make a (omfortab^- I FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. «6 abiding-place in-doors, and the necessity of a house-keeper,— all of which tended to swell the expense account. You who arc mamed might do much better ; but, a« I lived a life of single blessedness, I was compelled to pay for this blessed privilege. With my winter work I liad been fully satisfied. My verbenas succeeded and multiplied plentuously, and another winter I wtus disposed to make verbenius a specialty. The stock of other flowering winter-plants had increased nearly two-fold, and yielded me a better return than ever, although some were lo.st entirely. My facilities for market, as before sUited, wore of the best. Some extra expenses were incurred, however, in the way of commissions to the agent in the city to whom I consigned my produce to be sold. The prices given below are the net amounts received after deduct- ing freight, conmiissions, and other expenses. A difficulty, not before known to mc wjus experienced in the negligence of my agent in not returning all the baskets in which the produce was forwarded to market ; but I learn that it is no imusual ca.se, and that all shippers make an al- lowance for it, calculating that if half the baskets are return- ed they are doing well. My first shipment wa« three thous- and head of lettuce, which reached an early market, and l)rought me ten cents net. A subuecjuent shipment of four thousantl head brought seven cents. They had the good for- tune to all reach market in prime order, and thus met a ready sale and good prices. The market soon after became liber- ally supplied, and two su>),se(iucnt shipments closed up my crop, and brought lour and two cents each, of two and one thousand each, notwithstanding they were more mature ami better in every way. My hittuce crop was hardly disposed of and the ground cleared up. before my att«.'ntion was di- } m PrVE THOUSAND A YEAR; rected to tli»» «:ntlu>riiir( and shipping of tonmtoos. Th«^ plants Imvinj^ Iwon pretty woU advanced when transplanted to the open j;fn>un«l, they came forward quite rapidly. The soil had Iwen made very rich, producing a very good effect, both in the early crop and the quantity. The yield was al)ont four htindred bankets, which were put up in the u.sual peek basket, and bn)Ught priee.s ranging from one dollar and twenty to fifty cents \)er basket. The balance of the crop 1 sold on thi" vines for twenty-five dollars. Succeeding toma- toes in prompt rotation came the cabbnges, bringing from four dollars to two dollora per hundred. Potatoes were a later crop, and the average price received per bu»hel was one dollar and fifty cents. I had planted a very early variety, which brought a very fair price for the times. At the pre- sent writing, potatoes do not reach these figures, and the price received was owing to the state of the market conse- quent u|)on the demands of the war then itiging. The fol- lowing recapitulation of my year's work will not only be in- tere.stuig, mit wui bear verincation : — CaBh un hnnil l)ugiiiniiig ol ' the yenr, 81,454 '27 Sftlos of rtowtr.H, 079 80 " " vorlKJUu plnnts 1,350 00 " " lettuce 080 00 " " toniatoos, ► ., 1,155 00 " " cnltbiiguH, . * 104 00 " " potatoes, (JOO 00 Inventory of greonhoiwe, 600 00 " " sttHjk in vcrbcniu, 450 (H) " " '• intooU etc., 250 00 ♦* " livo8t«ick, . . . • 300 00 ■•* '• liousehoKl K'x )iU, 170 00 ' |i7,8u3 07 AND HOW 1 MADK IT. 87 UIHBUK.SEMENTM. Paid on land, .... " for moving and freight. , " " housuhuld furniture, . *' salary to housu-koopor, ' ' oxi)enso of table, " clothing and incidentalo , Cost of greenhouse, ' ' running the same, " seed, etc., " span of horaos and harness, " wagon, .... " fann iin])leinent8, " cow, pig, .in I hens, " " manure, .... Carried ovor, ..... Cost f)f two men three nionths, " " 2(X) new luiskets, . i; < u It i< II Amount of assets, ..... Deduct amount on hand beginning of year. Profit over outlays, . . Adding payment on land, " expense of greenhouse, , (( of stock. 9200 W 20 01) 175 00 150 m 410 0<» 250 Ot) 028 00 573 00 15 00 '2M 00 05 00 21 00 115 00 200 (K> li»:{,108 (H) Jt7.«5.1 07 180 m 40 00 4,525 07 1,454 27 a,070 80 .S200 00 «)28 00 840 (H) 1,074 00 Net profit for third your, . * ♦ . . . ^,744 HO At lii-st sij^ht these figure.-; look rather hirgc, luid I tlarr say that many, uj)oii reaching tliis point of my story, will put it ook was bronjjjht out nn])tness in reaching an early mar- ket, secured me fair pri(;es, and as (pioted. " Oh, war prices were juofitaltle; hut it coidd not he don»; now." it may be said. It may or it may not be so; but indications at th(! present writing are strongly in favor of the latter. It would be far from my desire to overstate any case or probability, rather preferring to imderrate, if anything; and I have tried to make clear my statements. I know there is a great tendency among the reading public to slur at such .^'tatemeiits, and I can ordy ask an impartial Jmlgment. CHAPTER XV. I'lTY AND rol VTKV I, UK roNTHAPTKI* — ONIONS - HOW UAISKD — IMlOriTS OF CROPS. AtTKK a suoircssful Imrvest I Imd no reason for not eon- ;,'ratulating myself. 1 was now full}' e«tahli.she(J in the coun- try genuine, and wa.s favorably Hituat^Ml t<) view its advan- tages with its disadvantages. As a place of alK)dc', th(; (•ountry is, without doultt, very plea-sant, and far su|)erior t<» the eity durirg the sunuuer months ; hut is turned from with disgust by maiiy, when fall and winti-r storms set in. It is true, muddy roads and gravel walks are not ecjual t<» nice stono pavements ; but it cannot be exi»e« U-<\ tliat we shall have everything just as we like it The country is not ad- apted to tliat class of never-stay-at-home-j>eopIe of an even- ing, especially during winter nights. Homo endearments arc very sweet to me, and I think should l»e Ut all well-dis- posed persons who wisli to lea«l a moral life ; tlierefore a winter's .sojourn in the country was e(|ually i\s plejusant as the sunuuer. Among the fair sex I could really distinguish no difference ; for they idl ap|)eare«l to flutter jus fine regalias as over I witnessed in the city, and there wjus no lack for enjoyment or sociability, while the fre.sh cotmtry air, acconi- |>anied with liealthful exercise, cleared them from the pale and ghostly appearance so pievalent among our city las,scs, and IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 12.5 IIM 11 2.2 m 2.0 1.8 1.4 IIIIII.6 <^ /}. A^. % ^ # t o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V V "% .V ^^ o <> M M ^ ^ %*^^^<> -^^ V w^ C^ /l^. ^ ao FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; imparted a ruddy hue to their cheeks without the aid of cosmetics. The advantages of society I consider are vastly superior ; for here acquaintances are readily acquired, while better opportunity is afforded for knowing the true charactei- of all with whom you associate. Every one knows their neighbor, which is a singular contrast to city life. For seve- ral years I have lived in a city, and not known ray next- door neighbor, or anything appertaining to him, although a brick wall is all that intervenes. Necessity of much walking also gives great opportunity for acquiring that most hepJthfil exercise; and of walks, both plea,sant f.nd recreative, we have an abundance stretch- ing far out into the country, over green hills and dales, through lovely fields and shady groves, with plenty to admire and instruct. Rambles are frequent, and productive of much good cheer, causing the heavy step to grow buoyant and the sad heart to be braced with pleasure. We had no hy- drant, with ever-flowing Croton or gas ; but a deep well sup- plied such pure cold water at all times as to obviate the ne- cessity of that indispensable city luxury, ice. For light, we have the modern lamps, which are far more pleasant to work or read by, although not quite as convenient. We had four mails every day, and morning papers from the city were received at an early hour, while the evening papers were on hand as soon as the day's work was com- pleted. Of other reading we had an abundance. I had re- tained my membership to the Mercantile Library, and I was in the city at least once a week, and found it no inconvenience to change books. Many other reasons could be brought to sliow wherein country life contrasts favorably with city pri- ^ \ ' AND HOW I MAD.' IT. 91 . r ; i I vileges. Above all things, the great Kociahility of the peo- ple made the most favorable impression uf>on mo, and through this source 1 derived much valuable information, and was persuaded by them to turn my attention to the great crop of this section, in whicli every one, to a greater or leas ex- tent, seemed to be engaged. There is but one place in the United States where i..ore onions are raiiied tlian in this sec- tion, that is Dan vers, Mass., where it haK Wn stated they raise two hundred thousand bushels a year. The New York market is principally supplied from thin Hection,and it would be a low estimate to state the yield of thiK town to be one hundred and fifty thousand bushels a year. It is no unusual case for farmers about town to raise from four to six hundred bushels per acre, bringing prices from two to eight dollars per barrel of two bushels. One of our ino«t wealthy citi- zens commenced here twenty-five yeaiH ftgr>, on two rods square of ground, and raised as high as eight acres of this product a season. Prices ranged higher during the war than ever before or since ; yet at fifty cents a bushel onions remain a very profit- able crop. In the cultivation of onions, the first and most important item is the seed and its conditiorj. In other seeds we can readily judge from tlie ai»pearan<;e whether it will yield good; but with onion seed it is perfectly impossible. Seed over a year old is worthless, and mudi of the one-year- old seed proves poor. After selecting the mr^t solid, large, deep, and bright seed, it can be further t»y putting into water, when the light seed will rise to tlie top, and the good will sink. The soil best adapted for the f)Mrpose should be of a deep loamy nature, and have ]>een planted with pota- toes or corn two previous seasons. When the ground has 92 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAU ; been cleared of the crop in the fall, then prepare it for onions, by putting on twenty loads of well-rotted nranure, fifty bushels to the load ; plough it deep, and let it remain during the winter. Hog manure is the best, but any kind of strong manure will do. If ashes are to be had [)ut on one or two hundred bushels per acre in addition. Bone dust is applied as a manure in many cases. The ground should be prepared in the spring for the seed, as soon as it is dry, by harrowing with tooth and brush until it is level and mcilow ; but not too much so, for onions will bottom better if not too mellow. From three to four pounds of seed per acre arc re- quired, which is best sown in drills. Two or more rows can be sown at once by use of an onion planter, which is very simply made, at an expense of three or four dollars. Tlie rows should be perfectly straight, and twelve inches apart. To cover them take a hoe, setting in well, and shove along over the rows. As soon as they come up far enough to ha seen plainly commence the hoeing and weeding, Avhich must be continued as long as there are weeds to be seen. Crops can be raised just as well year after year on the same gi'ound, for they require no rotation of crops, but good manuring, as the first year. If the ground is free from weeds when the crop is gathered, so much the better for next year's crop. When most of the onions get ripe, they are pulled and spread on the ground to dry for a day or two, when they are raked into windrows, and when a little damp at night, put in small heaps until there is no moisture left in the tops. When a dry day comes they are again spread out to dry, and, when properly dry, cast into the barn. They can be kept spread from two to three feet deep, if they are well cured, and placed where plenty of fresh air can circulate through them, y ^ AND HOW I MADE IT. 93 > until very cold weather, when they must be kept from freez- ing too much. To prepare them for market they are topped and put in barrels, which are sent down by the market-boats and sold, the barrels being returned to the owner. The ex- pense of raising an acre of onions is placed as a fair average, at one hundred and fifteen dollars. A half crop — say four hundred bushels, — at fifty cents, would bring two hundred dollars. This is a low estimate both of yield and price. The average yield about here is about six hundred bushels per acre, and the price varies from one to two dollars per bushel. With proper attention, and large drafts upon the bank of muck and manure, a few acres of onions will increase the deposits in the bank of exchange by a large per centage. No crop seems to be devoid of its enemies. With onions we have what is called the onion-fly, for want of a better name, which sometimes commits serious depredations. Spi Inkling of ashes is resorted to somewhat ; but does not have the desired effect of exterminating them. Steeping seeds slightly in salt brine, before sowing, has been strongly recommended as a sure cure for the havoc of the insect sup- posed to be deposited in the seed, I cannot vouch for its success however. rx?''- J'-Vl •:;jiVVil CHAPTER XVI. RESULTS OF FOURTH AND FIFTH YEARS— AGRIC ULTURAL BOOKS AND PAPERS— ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF AGRICULTURE. At the close of the third ycur, I came to the conclusion that in future I should confine iny winter labors entirely to the culture of the verbena. In accordance with this decision, I disposed of my whole stock of flowering plants and bulbs, which by their increase brought more than double what I had paid for them three years previous ; besides covering all losses by disease and other causes. I disposed of them by advertising in the agricultural papers, and filled most of the orders by mail, — Congress having made provisions for carry- ing small parcels in that manner. After all expenses were paid, I had just three hundred and forty dollars in hand for my stock, which was at once invested in enlarging my green houses by the addition of two more, the same size as the others. The verbenas had been transplanted to open ground in the spring, as ornamental flowers for my yard and borders. From these, I gathered a large quantity of cuttings, and entered into the winter's work of the fourth year in propa- gating. By spring I had overcome many misfortunes more than ever before experienced, and succeeded in marketing five i/ fffmmm FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. .^ thousand baskets of verbenas, netting clear of expenses three thousand one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. I had paid up during the winter, for my house and land ; had refitted my house outside and inside, and built on another story with a Mansard roof ; had repainted it throughout ; had also bought a piece of ground of ten acres, down the road about one quarter of a mile, which wjis the nearest to my place that I could purchase. My object was to cultivate com, potatoes, and other produ'^ts for house use, and for keeping my live stock. In the spring, I planted the four and a half acres adjoining the house with onions. This ne- cessitated the hiring of two men, by the year, to assist me. From this plot T raised seventeen hundred bushels of onions from which I received a net return of three thousand two hundred and eleven dollars, the prices received varying from two to three dollars per barrel. Without going into details, my net returns this year amounted to four thousand nine- hundred and eighty-seven dollars, which you will see was but little short of five thousand dollars, after a four vears' trial. The whole amount of my worldly goods at this time, inchiding stock, real estate, and cash, was eight thousand and fifty-seven dollars. The following year my profits were not as large, nor the market as good ; but not having the expenses of the previous year, my balance stood about the same the fifth year. I say about the same ; but, to be accurate, it was just fifteen dollars more, making my income just five thousand and two dollars and fifty cents. I continue to make a specialty of these two crops, — ver- Ixjnas for winter and onions for summer culture, — and find sufficient work to keep me fully occupied and amply remu- 90 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; nerated. I spend my eveningB at home, reading and improv- ing my mind, while my da»ly labors bring me beneficial and healthy exercise. When I first entered this business, as an experiment, my weight stood at one hundred and twenty- seven pounds. At present I average one hundred and eighty- two pounds, and am fleshy enough to be an alderman. Having drawn my story out already much longer than I had intended, I am forced to bring it hastily to a close, and, in looking over what I have written, I can see how feebly my points have been explained. ' My story is given for the benefit of all who will read, hop- ing, however, to throw out a light which will shine to ad- vantage for some who will go and do likewise , and in closing I would reiterate the same statement with which I started out, namely, in a word, that a man with brains, and nothing but his hands, can commence and cultivate a small piece of ground, and, by industry and determination, may, year by year, not only provide an ample home, but with frugality and perseverance, may accumulate in the savings bank that which will be the nucleus of a small fortune. It does not matter how this is done ; some prefer one way, some another ; but this road I have followed, and from my experience can safely recommend it to others, and it is open for more than ever will enter upon it. ' ' .. ir ' . • .' • . .111.':.-- All men who have acquired wealth will concur in saying that their hardest work was in accumulating the first clear one thousand dollars. I have endeavored to lead you care- fully through the starting-points, knowing that your own experience would be of greater aid in after years than aught I could write or advise you. Of course there are those who :^ iwiiiipiiriiiiiiiii AND HOW I MADE IT. 97 V i^ look upon the tilling of the soil as a low occupation ; and every profession has its enemies as well as its advocates. Such have yet a great veil to be withdrawn from their eyes. I can say it is not degrading, but, on the contrary, one of the most useful, honest, pure, noble, and elevating callings in which man can embark ; and in this statement I can bring hundreds of our best and able citizens to substantiate me. After perusing this work, you may say, " Well, if that is true, it is an exceptional case," and ask, " If it is true, why do not all farmers become rich ?" In reply I ask. Can you .show me an industrious and systematic farmer who is not gro\^g rich. There are plenty of dull heads and slovenly men wh'J) attempt farming, and fail the same as in every other business ; but they are no criterion. Secondly, allow- ing that farmers, as a rule, only did one half as well, would not their profits even then be an argument and encourage- ment ? He who makes haste makes waste ; you may con- ceive that some day you will fall upon some lucky specula- tion which will open to you the doors of the mine of wealth much easier and quicker ; but, be assured, your chances arc just one in a thousand. Take the steady going man, who plods on regularly but surely, and yearly puts away a small portion, and he will be sure to win. The great beauty of a farm life is that you are not subjected to a constant outlay to live. A good farmer never buys anything he can raise himself In other occupations you have not this advantage, and you must be laying out small sums for expenses and sus- tenance of life ; while the farmer has just as many luxuries and saves just this amount you spend to get what he enjoys. It is this practice of constant saving, by a rigid and well- 7 f)8 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; planned econoiny, that brings in more money than tlie deej> laid scheinoH and conniving plans. If you never save you will never have the wherewith for future use, make as much money as you like. My final word of encouragement is to you, young man or young couples just starting out in life, whatever lie your occupation, do not despise a small begin- ning, if it he honest, and save to the uttermost, and you can- not fail to Jtocomo rich. If you think tliere is another or easier wa}', you have yet to learn that Ave live in an age when golden apples cannot ]>e had for tin; picking. If you would make your way and home independent in this world, you must needs work for it. If you follow my experience, and adopt the same course, you will succeed. It is assuredly the most healthy and beneficial; the most easily acquired and the surest road to success, while the calling is decidedly the most honoral)le. You are the producer, without whom the world cannot exist ; we must have foot to eat, and dothes to wear, so long as we live. Withdraw the producers from the world, and a sorry figure the people remaining would cut. Kuin and desolation Avould run wild, and miseries untold would exist. In social Hcien(;e we find all trades dovetail together foi- the general good of the community, — all necessary for the promotion of its welfare, — yet when necessity demands, there are those which can be dispensed with better than others. But last of all can the producer be spared, for he holds the key to the existence of millions. Tell rac, then, such a posi- tion is not honorable ; that it i.s not a noble calling. Then, I say, go l^ack to the rudiments of a civilized education, and be taught lik<; a child. m , \ AND H(>\V I MADl'; IT. I may remark, by way of advice, and not because of any interest I have in them heyond the promulgation of good and practical information for the benefit of my fellowmen, that every person should become a subscriber to standard agricultural papers, for they are of gi'eat value botli to prac- tical and amateur cultivators. T do not propose to inHuence an^'' person in the favor of one paper to the prejudice of another, for all are good. My favorites are the " American Agriculturist" and "Moore's Rural New Yorker." I liare also quite a large library of agricultural works (»ii all sub- jects ; but those which I most prize I can reconunend most strongl}'. But your own judgment should be exercised in your purchases as to those books best adapted to tlie j)arti- cular branch of agriculture j^ou pro])Ose to adopt. As books of general reference, I find "Todd's Young Farmer's Manual" to supply every need. It consists of two volumes, entitled respectively "The Farm and Workshop," and " How to make Farming Pay." For books in detail, a new work, just pub- lished by Peter Henderson, entitled " Floriciultui'e," super- sedes, in my mind, anything before offered on the subject oi" flowers. " Gardening for Profit," by the same author, " Small Fruit Culturist," by Fuller, and a series of works by Jacques, are worthy of careful perusal and reference. A book written some years ago by a gentleman, formerly a printer in Phila- delphia, and who adopted farming with success, entitled " Ten Acres Enough," is a very good book, and full of en- couragement. I cannot fail to notice two little pamphlets recently jmb- lished in Boston, — the one called " My Ten-Rod Farm ; or, $2,000 a Year," and another called " Farming by Inches," — which I think are books both of pleasure and practical value lOO FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR. for any one to read who has any idea of cultivating the soil in any capacity. The first shows what a poor woman can do, while the latter will tend to encourage many a broken-down book-keeper, or failed tradesman, who looks out into the dreary waste to see how he can repair his fallen fortunes and ambition. Gentle reader, I leave you to draw your own conclusions from my little book, and whatever you think of doing, I wish you success, and remember that what man has done can be done again. ■» \ »/ >> i CHAPTER XVII. CONX'LUSIOX. It is evident to every person, who has been thrown upon their own resources in life, that tli' errand desideratum of life is money. How to get it is the all-aij nljing question which so perplexes and provokes all mankind. To get money hon- estly, first for the immediate v .its of oursel-, ,:h and families, and secondly, for our future, when th- ands of life are near- ly run out, claims the devotion of a moral man's first years. Tv be rich is the summit for which so many scramble with- out looking well to their foothold, and from rhich, in an evil hour, in a moment, as in the twinkling of an eye, thi y are cast down, and all their bright visions of prosperity pas.s' silently away, as the morning dew beneath tiie sun, and tliey find themselves plunged into the deep abys.H of despair and destruction, with blighted hopes and a discouraged ambition as the only fruits of all their labors. With a large capital, keen and shrewd business tact, one will succeed where twen- ty fail in the large competition of our cities. A man without capital has still less chances of success in any occupation he undertakes, and therefore thousands must give their services for wages to those who have capital. There are to-day, by actual statistics, in the city of New York alone, ten thousand young men without employment ; while as many more are 102 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; living upon a meagre salary, which barely provides the food they eat. Their home is probably the attic of some one of those abominable dens called boarding-houses, and thus de- prived of all the influences of home or a higher life, what wonder is it that the enchantments of o-orgeous billiard-halls and the companionship of the corner beer-shop should lure them away from the paths of virtue into idle habits and dis- sipation, Avhicli is the fallow ground for every kind of wick- edness. Is it surprising that the morning papers are daily i-ecording such startling sensations of high-handed crime and wickedness, when the devil has such a school of educated ])ersons to draw from ? Who is to blame for all of this ? To a great extent the employers, who will not pay their em- ploy (;s wages commensurate with the necessities of life ; and not having the means of otherwise obtaining the good influ- ences of a higher circle, they give themselves up to spend what little they do have in vile and profane pleasures, and are thus left to go down to ruin, and are finally forced to get money dishonestly when unable to get it honestly. Many a high and noble-minded individual has thus passed his life away, and been laid in the potter's fleld, not even mourned for by his late companions in vice. Just so long as this con- tinues, the rich will become more rich and the poor will be- come more poor. The great greed for money drowns out all conscientiousness and benevolence in our merchants, and it is useless to look to them for a reform. The young men must rise up and take the reigns in their own hands, and cast themselves ofl" from being longer serfs to such a peoi)le. No relief will come until our young men become educated to understand that they shall withhold their services for them- selves. ;, ''■^WBIH'"^ AND HOW 1 MADK IT. 103 .. Ill the face of all these facts, young men from the country, who have good homes and good opportunities for becoming active, lionest, and thriving citizens, are daily seeking to make an exchange to their own injury, and the oppression of the already overcrowded city. Thousands now here, who have passed through the fiery ordeals and struggles of pov- erty in a city, are ready to flee to the country, to any place that will give them an opportunity for a Kfe of usefulness to themselves ; while thousands more, without capital, are re- volving in their minds, without coming to any satisfactory conclusion, wliut they can do to make a start for themselves in the world. One of the greatest evils with which our large cities are atflicted is the constant acquisition of persons from the coun- try, coming hither under the prevailing idea that eiisier and more lucrative employment may bo found. The largest number of our foreign emigrants also prefer to remain here and work, carrying a hod rather than work for themselves. Resident fathers arc raising families, and their sons must be furnished employnient, even if they have to pay employers for taking them and teaching them in tlie routine of busi- ness ; and this latter plan is becoming more and more preva- lent every year. In the ftice of such lacts, how can a young man, dependent upon his own labor, manage to succeed '{ Unless a young man has a friend in the city with whom he can board, and make a salary of one hundred dollars supply his other Avants the first year, ho cannot even make a begin- ning. The very least for which one can live in the city is ten dollais a week, and that only of the poorest fare and ac- commodations. It is more than useless for young men to 104 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR; I continue crowding into the city, for they are not benefited thereby, either financially or morally. The very fact of overcrowding the city reduces wages, and thus puts money in the pockets of the employers. For, the more there is to hire out, the less a man can be engaged for, and every employer will take the man who costs him the least for his services, thereby reducing his expenses, and increasing his profits. If you are out of employment, do not come to the city, for there is no reasonable hope of your suc- ceeding. Thousands in the city of New York are to-day out of work, and suffering for the necessai'ies of life ; they are willing and able to work, but there is no work for them. You may not think so, yet it is true, that your own country home furnishes more ample scope for your abilities than any city. There are hundreds here to compete with you in what ever trade or vocation you may cast your lot, and with ex- perience in all the machinations of trade, with which you have no knowledge. It is only those of the most extreme shrewdness and ability that make any headway at all. The temptations and corruptions of a city life are unbounded. If you are a farmer, continue to labor on, and lay the founda- tion for your future home in your own country town. It is growing to be an honor to be a farmer, while its remunera- tion is always sure. Agriculture is now becoming a science If you have no trade, by all means secure one at once ; so that when all else fail, there will be some one thing in which you are skilled, and by which you can make an honest liv- ing. If you are already a mechanic or journeyman, in any branch or vocation, you will find it equally true that the country is a better field for your labors. Should you aspire to positions of honor and trust, which are within the gift of i MiiipR B*hiHliii~v*<— -. .. ~."^^-I^-\ AND HOW I MADK IT. 105 the people, work your way up among your friends, where you are known. It is more easily achieved, and of far greater honor when thus obtained, than when piu-chased by passing through the fiery ordeal of knavery and trickery, as is so often the case in our large citien. The field for usefulness lies open Ijcfore your very eyes. You have not one mile to journey toward it. If you are a mechanic or journeyman, you can live where you are in- clined. Where your work is, there you may live. You will not find it so in our cities. All our large manufacturers, of whatever class, have their manufactory in some country vil- lage, giving tliein more room for Ickh money. Notice and follow their wisdom thus displaye^l. If you choose to culti- vate the soil, get or hire a small placoth for your own use, and for others. Do not depend upon (tthnrH to produce for you. If you are too far from a good market, get near one, and fol- low their maxims, and I am sure you will succeed. I have made these statements from a large and extended experience. I have run a comi)lcte race of hardships in struggling to keep myself abovx* wat<;r, and at last have found my voc.ition. I have been Kurj)ri«ed that I had not arrived at so simple a method before; but it has not equall- ed that I have, when I see young men ho foolishly led away by a blind hope of making a fortune if they could only get into the city. I am satisfied there h much more room than ever will bo occ\ pied outside of the city, and that in the city everything is more than full. If, then, you choose to heed my advice, and take warning, you will find ample scope 106 FIVE THOUSAND A YEAH; for your abilities in your own country home ; and I feci war- ranted in saying, that in so doing you will achieve honor and success If you will throw your whole soul into farming with the determination to succeed by it, you will achieve success. Only treat it just as well as any other business, and you will succeed. The earth is a bank, into which you can make your deposits with a certainty of a larger percentage in re- turn than in any stock or mercantile investment, while there is no fear of defalcation or robbery. There is no fear of sud- den financial crisis to sweep away all your capital. Mother Earth continues to bear and grow vegetation, with which to replenish your treasury through all the financial storms and revulsions just the same, while the agricultural press and inventive genius of the people are daily ennobling and ag- grandizing the profession, increasing knowledge, and aiding to lighten the labors attendant upon the cultivation of the soil. The farmer is confident of his living, if nothing more, while his chances for success are far superior ; and while he is privileged to rest his weary body in the pure God-given air, so promotive of health, he is still conscious his labors are not fruitless, and that what he has sown is growing while he sleeps. The world is dependent upon the producer for its life. If he fails, the world wanes. People must live, and some one must produce that they may live ; and in this noble calliig we have been privileged to enter, A visit to some of our famous markets, such as Washing. ton Market, of New York City, cannot fail to i)roducc a cor- rect impression of the great demands of life, and how they are supplied, as well as the grand position of him who grows i 1Hn i nt >W .W ll AND HOW I MADE IT, 107 the supplies. How every variety of living vegetation may be seen, and plainly watched to the place of its consumption, with a rapidity which indicates unmistakeably that the de- mand is clearly beyond the supply. For a moment consider the statistics of the increase of population in New York city for the last ten years, all of which are consumers, and compare it with the increase of ])roducers, and you will find the former nearly double in ratio that of the latter every year. Increase of inhabitants, both by natural birth and by foreign imigration, all of whom cling fondly to the city and all its enchantments, go to swell the ranks of consumers. These things are inevitable, and must be prepared for, and so long as these facts remain un- changed, there will be no glut in the market, and prices of all products will hold good and amply repay the producer. What is true of New York city is only too true of every other. p HOW TO GET EICH. I) HOW MUCH MAKES A MAN RICH?* A GROUP of half-a-dozen New York merchants, returning from business about dusk to Brooklyn, and crossing the East River in a ferry-boat, started the question, during the pas- sage, "How much makes a man rich?" The inquiry was propounded with a view to suggest what might be called a standard of luealth, by which everj"^ man in the comnn lity might measure his means, and ascertain his position in society — as far as " that rank which is but the guinea's stamp," can determine a man's proper place .imong his fellows. In the brief interval of eight or ten minutes, occupied in going over the river, as many various opinions were expres- sed, as there were gentlemen to express them. Each one was then asked, in turn, what amount of money or estate in hi.s possession would constitute him, in his own estimation, a man of wealth ; and in this instance the diversity of figures, after every man had, with much hesitation and many quickly changing opinions, ventured to draw a boundary around his imaginary fortune, was as great as the diversity of human •A gentleman of great wealth, on being interrogated with the question, " When is a man rich ?" gave the comprehensive answer, " Wlien he has got a little more." (. .•^ \ .'-s HOW MUCH MAKES A MAN RICH ? 109 features in the faces of the group. A fact, however, was noticed — which may not seem strange — that in the replies to the latter questions, where every man felt himself peculiarly and personally interested, the amounts ran up far liigher than in the other, where the members of the whole com- munity were embraced in the inquiry. Every answer to such a question is made up of two ele- ments ; and of these, that which is really the less, is com- monly regarded as the greater. The first arises from the constitution seek, with uneasy anxiety of possession, a superfluity which more pi'operly should be left to fill the measure of another's need. A merchant in successful Ijusincss — for prosperity seeks always to grow more prosperous — might call himself rich enough with a handsome house already built, and a hundred thousand dollai-s handsomely invested to support a handsome style of living ; and, generally, it may be set down to the credit of a rich-growing merchant, if he is willing to let go of Fortune, when he can hold a hundred thousand dollars of her treasures in his gi-ij). On the other hand, a destitute widow, who knits stockings for a livelihood — whose threshold Fortune never crossed, that comes a welcome visitor to many — will take comfort in her prosperity, if she has one pair always on hand, ready to be sold for a fair price. Hon. Wm. L. Marcy rolatos tliat when he was Governor of the State of New Yoik, a backwoodsman from Washing- ton County stepped int - his office one day, introducing him- self in a rough but hearty style, as having been a schoolmate of his host about thirty years previous, who inquired par- ticularly how he had prospered since his elevation to a public station. Mr. Marcy responded, chai'acteristically, that he had not found political life to pay veiy well, and retorted the (question upon his stalwart guest, " Well," he replied, " the I. it,-..«y IJ«pnWmr.V*'.H>WI WW HOW MUCH MAKES A MAN RICH ? Ill Squire used to say, when we were boys, that I'd never git along, for I had no tact for succeedin' in the world ; but 1 rather guess I've got to be better off than the Squire himself ever was. Why, old friend," said he, straightening himself out to his full height with some pride, and lowering his voice to a confidential tone, " I wouldn't like every one to know it, but I guess, when some little outstandin' accounts are settled, I've got about three hundred dollars in clean cash." Mr. Marcy declares thsit his friend was the richest man he over met, for he was perfectly satisfied. The old proverb, '' Contentment is better than wealth," might sometimes be altered to read, " Contentment forms the greater part of wealth." But notwithstanding the diversity of individual opinions, there is abroad in the community what may be called a common-sense view of what constitutes wealth, and which, like a l)arometer in steady weather, does not greatly rise or fall fi'om a defined standard. It does not determine in figures that wealth shall be a thousand or ten thousand talents, nor set forth precisely equal amounts for each man's legitimate fortune ; but, taking into consideration the necessities and exigencies of every individual, it finally settles upon him a royal competence, that is sufficient to fortify him against the assaults of ordin- ary misfortunes, and to add luxury to comfort in his enjo}-- ment of life. Sometimes the sum must be swelled to a million dollars, though it must be regarded that instances of such necessit\' arc extremely rai-e ; sometimes one decimal figure is cut oft" and the line of limit is drawn at a hundred thousand ; oftener \ 112 HOW TO GET RICH. /■ '•^ ' i \ I still, another figure drops from the enumeration, and with ten thousand the treasury of wealth is full. ^ When the resources of a man are sufficient to enable him, finit to satisfy his own largest necessities, and to bestow generously upon the needs of others less fortunate ; and then to leave ir. his hand, to be expended, the price of all pur- chasable pleasures which he may moderately desire, and to settle deep down in his pocket still another sum which shall yield substance when the rest fails and becomes a shadow, — such a man, in the calm judgment of common-sense, must be esteemed at least rich ; and although there is often a wide difference between riches and wealth, he may generally be called wealthy, and not unfrequently opulent. THE END. THE SIEGE OF DERRY AND DEFENCE OF ENNI8KILLEN; A Narrative of the Great and Leading Events which tranipired in Ireland dnring that Momentous Period in onr National History, BY THE REV. JOHN GRAHAM, RECTOR OF MECILUCAN, DIOCESE OF DERRY, (FORMERLY CURATE OF UFFORO;) ^ irst Pnblished in Londonderry in 1823. To which is added a most EToqnent Account of the &c., &c., THE SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF LIMERICK, l^> WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION, BY THE REV. W. M. PUNSHON, M.A. ONE VOLUME, OCTAVO, OVER 300 PAGES , STRONG C LOTH B0ABD8, FINE THICK PAPER, AND NEW TYPE. PRICE 4(1.44^-'Poiit Free, on Receipt of Priee. H/IGLEAR ft CO.. PVBLISHIBS, TORONTO. (OVM »:*& A THE SIEGE OF DERRY AND DEFENCE OF ENNI8KILLEN; A Narrative of the Great and Leading Events which tranmired in Ireland during that Komentoni Fenod in our National BOitory. The events bo olo(][uently portrayed in this work by the ^eat and gifted men whose names it bears, are second in importance to none others in British History. . Here we have in MII^JTE DETAIL, found no where ehe, the lon^ list of heroes who nobly stood np, at the expense of life, home, comfort, and every thms but honour and conscience, to secure for ua and the whol« Empire at home and abroafi, the blessinss of Civil and Religious Liberty — blessings only faintly appreciated by too many in our day. But for the Ndf^Baorificing and qoUe deeds performed on Irish soil during that eventful period, we mi|^t now be groy(;llfog under the hated rule of a Stuart, or mayhap, a bloated B<>ni;)l)^, and as much denied as Italy, Spain or Portugal, instead of each and all of every creed and color dwelluij^iu peace, prosperity and happiness, iinder the pro- tection of one of the best momurchs that ever swayed an earthlv sceptre. It is surely time to look to our. bearings, when the principles for which our fathers freehr shed tipeir lite^blMd, are rej^udiated by many openly, and others covertly. ^Vnen me^ bearing toe once-revered name of Protestant, aye, Protestant Clergy, have set up the C6U«iiional, the Rags and Mumiperies of Rome — keep out from their churches the imre light of heaven, and substitute for it a few twinkling candlrM, '' "To mock the Saviour of mankind. ' As if the God of Heaven were blind." The eloquent May the venerw^ti pf tlif ;^ople of Londoliderif^and-%c North Jjenerally, for the dear olcl ct^ aiul its asHoci&tions." "It is a TtifSpWfr Y^Ym auj^, "which belongs to the higher aiid purer part of human nature, and which Huus uot%> ' tie to the strength of states. A people which takes no pride in the noble acbievCtaieni^ of remote ancestors, will never acliie\'c anything wortliy to Ikj remembered M'ith pride by remote descendants." "Within the city," 'says the same author, " there were acveu tluniMAud men capable of bearing arms, and the wnole world could not have furnished se^•cn thousand men lietter qlSUhiied to meet a terrible emergency. " ^%e Reign of Terror imder which every Protestant in Ireland groaned at the time of the Revolution will be seen in the liistOiy.of the events -contained in this book, showing clearly that the|% was no other course open to them but resistance to the Stuart dynasty, which, had it been perpetuated, must have sunk the whole British . Empire to the level of Spain, Portugal, or Italy. And if on this Continent a British Settlement existed at all, we may judge of its extent and character by what Mexico and Lower Canada now are, * ^Extract from the Speech of Sir John Young, Governor-General of the Dominion, Delivered at Toronto, 5(h October, 1869: Sir Joho spoke of th^J^udls of tl^^fris^ struggle in 1688-90 as "those who success- fully conducted the toi^me retreat ffom Cavan — who' turned to bay and held their ground at Enniskilleh, throu^ maby a month of doubt and peril. O^^hom another band sustained the LONGEST SIEGE wldch ever took place in the BH|^ Islands, and watched from the walls, which their viUoiir made impremable, the slow'aj^roach of the sails from Lough Foyle, which were bringing them reUef to close the conflict in their triumph — a triumph not more glorious to the defendcn$han it proved advantageous to them and their assailants, and to the cause of Civil and| Religious Liberty then and for all thne to come. 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