something as to the influence of organic matter upon the horsepower
required in tillage; and the organic matter also has a value because
it increases the power of the soil to absorb and retain moisture and
to resist surface washing and "running together" to form the hard
surface crust.

To think of applying two thousand pounds of nitrogen by plowing
under two hundred tons of manure or forty tons of clover per acre at
least requires a "big think," as my Swede man would say.

Of course, with our western life and cosmopolitan population, where
"a man's a man for a' that," mother feels that it would not be easy
for us to fit into your somewhat distinctly stratified society. We
would not be "colored" if we could, and perhaps we could not be
aristocratic if we would; and the opportunity to become, or, perhaps
I should say, to remain, "poor white trash," though wide open, is
not very alluring. I realize, of course, that there are some
whole-souled people like the West's and Thornton's, but I also found
some of the tribe of Jones, and I have much doubt as to the social
standing of one who would feel obliged to demonstrate that he could
spread more manure in a day than his hired nigger.

My Swede and I are like brothers; we clean stables together and talk
politics, science, and agriculture. In fact he is as much interested
as I am in the building up of Poorland Farm, and has already
contributed some very practical suggestions. I pay him moderate
wages and a small percentage of the farm receipts after deducting
certain expenses which he can help to keep as low as possible, such
as for labor, repairs, and purchase of feed and new tools, but
without deducting the taxes or interest on investment or the cost of