318 WISCONSIN AGEICULTURE. 



the greatest enemy of the apple tree, is that species of insect 

 called bark-lice. These are becoming fearfully destructive, and 

 threaten to be a lasting trouble. But we hope that some scien- 

 tific fruit-grower will soon discover a successful remedy for this 

 scourge. This brings to mind the necessity of having a medium 

 of communication between farmers, fruit-growers and mechan- 

 ics, so that each may know the improvements and discoveries of 

 the others. For this purpose we must take an agricultural paper. 

 There is one published at the Capital of our State that merits our 

 patronage and support, and I trust that each farmer of this 

 county will make this valuable acquisition to his library. 



Having procured the necessaries for a comfortable living, it 

 then remains to live comfortabl}", and in order to this, there are 

 a few things necessary. Of course, the farmer should have a 

 companion to share with him the comforts of his rural home. 

 Although I confess that there are some of us who are not so 

 highly favored, yet such is usually regarded as indispensable. 

 Then, around his dwelling, in addition to an orchard, he may 

 have a variety of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubbery, flowers, 

 etc., giving to his home an appearance, not only of utility and 

 convenience, but also of neatness and beauty. In arranging a 

 house, garden, barn, yards, and other fixtures around the farm, 

 we may do well to give attention to a few lessons which science 

 and observation teach us. The laws of health require that 

 around our dwellings we should observe the strictest rules of 

 cleanliness — that there should be no heaps of decaying vegetable 

 matter that would generate offensive vapors. The yarding of 

 cattle or other animals around or near the house, is an arrange- 

 ment that does not add to our health or comfort. There are 

 many annoyances that arise from this practice, such as mus- 

 quitos, house flies and other insects that are brought to the house 

 by the cattle. Ladies, if you don't want 3'our houses filled with 

 flies, get your husbands to build the cow-yard at some distance 

 from the house. Encourage the martin-bird to build his dwell- 

 ing near to yours, so that the flies which the cows leave behind 

 in the morning, instead of flying immediately in at the Avindows, 

 will furnish a breakfast for the feathered families. It is well 



