One day a farmer went to his farm as usual and he found a gnome sitting in one of his fields. As gnomes are believed to guard treasures, the farmer thought that there must be a treasure buried there.
"That's right," confirmed the gnome, "there is more gold and silver down here than you have ever seen in your whole life even."
"Well then, it's mine because it is in my field," exclaimed the man.
"It will be yours only if you give me half of what your field produces over the next two years," argued the gnome.
The farmer thought for a while and came to understand that the bargain was not bad in anyway. So, he said, "I agree to that. But you will get what is there on the top while what is there at the roots shall be mine."
The gnome thought of the abundant grain-crop that had just been harvested. He had seen that the fruit (seeds) of the crop were on the top of every stalk. He came to understand that the condition was worth accepting by all means. So, he accepted the gladly.
The farmer was very craft indeed. He planted potatoes for the next two years in his field. So, what was on the top was just useless to the gnome who felt that his plan had completely failed in the face of the farmer's wisdom. On the other hand, the farmer was overjoyed at the success of his wise trick.
Grossly tricked, the gnome felt quite and disappeared. How glad the farmer was to go and dig the treasure out where had said it would be !
