166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



either higher or lower than the normal temperature, to destroy 

 life in a human being ; and it is precisely so with the ox ; eight 

 degrees up or down is the boundary of the range in which the life 

 of the ox is possible. Now, then, if he is to live in cold and dis- 

 comfort, he must eat an increased quantity. If he appropriates 

 the carbon of his food for the production of heat, so much is de- 

 ducted from the amount of carbon he would lay on his ribs in the 

 form of fat. Every degree of temperature that he has to keep up 

 by means of food is just so many pounds or ounces subtracted 

 from the amount of fat which he would otherwise lay on. 



This matter is of vast practical importance. I may venture the 

 statement, that if the barns of Maine were made as they ought to 

 be, and as humane men ought to make them, the pecuniary saving 

 to the farmers of Maine would be, not thousands of dollars, but 

 millions ; and if this gentleman does no other good work for his 

 brother farmers, than to impress this great fact thoroughly and 

 completely as the foundation of real practical work, if he can 

 induce them to make their barns as he has described, he will 

 entitle himself to the epithet of a noble public benefactor. 



Mr. Thing. I want to say a single word upon a single point in 

 justice to the farmers of Maine. We have heard much said about 

 the dignity of labor ; about farmers not respecting their calling ; 

 about labor not being respectable. I have no sort of sympathy 

 with such talk. The farmers of Maine have no sympathy with it. 

 In this blessed day of grace in which we live, the labor of the 

 farm, the field, the shop, the sitting-room, the kitchen, the laun- 

 dry, is not only just as respectable, but it is looked upon by the 

 people generally as quite as respectable as any other calling. If 

 we desire to occupy a higher plane, we must Jit ourselves for it ; 

 we are not to dignify labor, but dignify ourselves. 



A few years ago, in a certain court in- this State, a foolish fellow 

 was tried for a crime which he had committed through the insti- 

 gation of another. He was defended by a lawyer who pleaded in 

 extenuation that the fellow was non compos, and therefore not 

 responsible. Nevertheless, he was convicted. The foreman of 

 the jury, wishing to keep upon good terms with the lawyer, came 

 to him, and undertook to explain the thing. Said Mr. Libbey, "I 

 have no fault to find ; he has been tried by a jury of his peers." 

 Now, as I said before, let us fit ourselves for the place we wish to 

 occupy, and then we shall stand there. 



Adjourned. 



