The thrifty farmer should cultivate his fields close up to the walls and fences. By so doing, he has the benefit of crops on a long narrow strip of land that is often given up to weeds and brush, which produce an abundant crop of seeds, and are a convenient hiding place for vermin.

Farmers are sometimes heard to say that it does not pay to cultivate this narrow line ; that the labor is greater than the return. It may be so on their land. If they have followed out this principle for years, you doubtless will find the walls down in places, the shrubs of former years now trees, and the strip that was once a few feet in width, now measuring a few yards. It doubtless would take the crops of several years to pay for the labor of clearing such a thicket, but all this great labor could be avoided if a little attention was given it every year - much less than is required to keep the thicket within bounds.

Do not understand that I advocate the destruction of all trees and shrubs on the farm lands. I do not by any means. They have their place, but it is not along every line of fence and wall. - Warren H. Manning.