"Of course, last year we had an exceptionally nice crop," said their aunt, "which was partly due, no doubt, to Bob's bees, and I think some credit should be given to the dynamiting of the land. Next year I'm sure we can sell every apple raised at a good price."
"Did we make $430 out of pigs last year?" asked Ruth, looking at the hog account.
"That's what we did," laughed her uncle.
"I had no idea so much money could be made raising pigs."
"Well, that's probably due to two reasons," said her uncle; "first, we started with a good breed, and, second, we took good care of them. You see we use a well-lighted and ventilated piggery and were able to average two litters in the year, which, of course, is just twice as good as raising one. Then we were fortunate in having good litters. We raised eight pigs per litter, which is beyond the average."
"Of course, Uncle Joe, Brookside Farm is no 'average' farm, and we ought to do better than average farming," she said.
"Yes, Ruth, but it takes work and study to do that and the information that is in the bulletins must be transferred into our heads if we're going to work successfully."
Hearing his wife chuckle, Williams looked up and said:
"Well, now, Bettie, what are you laughing at?"
"I was just thinking of our conference a year ago when we made up our first inventory. I was the school teacher then, but I've evidently lost my position, for you are now the teacher of modern methods, Joe," said his wife.