SECRETARY'S REPORT. 169 



than four-fifths of the replies arc, that its influence is "bad," 

 "deleterious," " hurtful;" and one replies briefly and strongly, 

 " it is death ! death ! to it." It is to be regretted that the 

 opinions thus expressed were not oftener accompanied with the 

 reasons therefor. So far as they are apparent, it appears to 

 arise chiefly from an attempt to pursue at once both lumbering 

 and farming, the result of which usually is, that the farm is 

 neglected and runs to waste. The returns from the lumber 

 are more speedy and thus very deceptive, due allowance, 

 being rarely made for the waste of manure, for lost time 

 which might be turned to good account in preparing for spring 

 labors, or in storing the mind with useful knowledge,"^^ or for 

 the fatigue and exhaustion of both men and cattle, so that the 

 labors of the farm are not entered upon or pursued with cheer- 

 ful alacrity. Yery often the habit is acquired of running up 

 long scores at the store where the trading is done, which rarely 

 show a balance in favor of the farmer, but be the reasons what 

 they may, there can be no doubt of the fact, that wherever and 

 whenever dependence upon the forest ceases, the farms begin 

 to amend at once, and the soil proves itself, though perhaps 

 somewhat slower in its returns, a much surer and more reliable 

 source of income. 



A correspondent writing from a largely lumbering district, 

 says: 



" I cannot satisfy my own mind as to the influences of the 

 lumbering operations on agriculture. They enhance the price 

 of labor so that farmers can scarce afford to hire. They also 

 enhance the price of produce. They tend to make men dis- 

 satisfied with the slow returns of agriculture, and so far as 

 farmers are led to neglect their legitimate business by engaging 

 in them, their influence must be bad. Whether on the whole, 

 agriculture gains as much by the market which lumbering 



*In this connection 1 am reminded of a remark by a correspondent, who after replying to the 

 query as to the influence of lumbering, says: "but the greatest obstacle to better farming among 

 us is the want of knowledge; we would do better if we could, but don't know how. When I was 

 young there was no way to get education, especially on farming, except at the tail of the plough, 

 and so we have to keep step lo the old tracks. But our young nipn are rousing up and ask 

 for something better, and if your Board can lend them a helping hand don't fail to do it." 



This certainly corroborates the views advanced on the thirty-first page, as to the utility of 

 efforts aimed at the diffusion of Jsno\yledge among agriculturists. 



