GOVERNOR, 1905
had come when it became manifest to me that no dependence was to be placed upon the promises of the politicians, that the people were utterly indifferent, and that it was necessary for me to be giving some attention to my own needs. Retaining two or three thousand books relating to the family and to the neighborhood of my home, the Mennonite books, the Schwenkfelder books and those of special interest and affection, the rest were sold. I was too busy with the affairs of the state to give the sales attention, and what I could have myself sold without expense, could I have given the time to it, for $75,000 or more, netted me between $27,000 and $28,000. Then I rented my house.
The Republicans of Chester County, on the 9th of September, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the party. About twenty thousand people gathered at West Chester. Vice-President Fairbanks and I rode around in a barouche together and, with Marlin E. Olmsted, one of the very ablest men in the state, made speeches. Transportation was over-burdened and I rode to Phœnixville in a baggage car, sitting on a chest.
On the 15th, along with N. B. Critchfield, Secretary of Agriculture, I went to Richland in Lebanon County to overlook the farm of Isaac S. Long, who is the champion corn grower of the United States. He has succeeded in raising 140 bushels of shelled corn to the acre. He hopes to reach 200 bushels. Upon land naturally fertile, he applies barnyard manure and lime heavily and eschews commercial fertilizers. While the corn is growing he goes through his field and selects the ears for seed and the seed is kept warm through the winter. He rejects every stalk bearing two ears, contending that one well-developed ear is preferable. He sells seed corn in New York at $5 a bushel. Upon my pointing out a quantity of wild carrots on his place, he said they were not objectionable, since the long roots went down into the subsoil and aided in rendering it available.
