If a man will buy land at $50 or $60 an acre, plant it to apple trees (not less than sixty-five to the acre), and bring these trees to an age when they will produce fruit to the value of $1.50 each, they will not have cost more than $1.50 per tree for the land, the trees, and the labor.

I am too old to begin over again, and I wish to see a handsome income from my experiment before my eyes are dim; but why on earth young men do not take to this kind of investment is more than I can see.  It is as safe as government bonds, and infinitely safer than most mercantile ventures.  It is a dignified employment, free from the ordinary risks of business; and it is not likely to be overdone.  All one needs is energy, a little money, and a good bit of well-directed intelligence.  This combination is common enough to double our rural population, relieve the congestion in trades and underpaid employments, and add immensely to the wealth of the country.  If we can only get the people headed for the land, it will do much toward solving the vexing labor problems, and will draw the teeth of the communists and the anarchists; for no one is so willing to divide as he who cannot lose by division.  To the man who has a plot of ground which he calls his own, division doesn’t appeal with any but negative force.  Neither should it, until all available lands are occupied.  Then he must move up and make room for another man by his side.

The sales for the quarter ending September 30 were as follows:—­

96 half-bushel boxes of apples $38.00
9 calves 104.00
Eggs 543.00
Butter 1293.00
Hogs 3407.00
                                      --------
        Total $5385.00

This was the best total for any three months up to date, and it made me feel that I was getting pretty nearly out of the woods, so far as increasing my investment went.

Including my new hog-house and ten thousand bushels of purchased grain, the investment, thought I, must represent quite a little more than $100,000, and I hoped not to go much beyond that sum, for Polly looked serious when I talked of six figures, though she was reconciled to any amount which could be stated in five.

My buildings were all finished, and were good for many years; and if they burned, the insurance would practically replace them.  My granary was full enough of oats and corn to provide for deficits of years to come; and my flocks and herds were now at their maximum, since Sam had turned more than eight hundred pullets into the laying pens.  I began to feel that the factory would soon begin to run full time and to make material returns for its equipment.  It would, of course, be several years before the fruit would make much showing, but I am a patient man, and could wait.