ll^Q BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. 



cheaper, and for grass one ap[)lication seemed all that was needed. 

 Eock weed inA'ariabl^- produces good crops of all kinds. 



Mv. AVekks. The great lack in Bristol is not so much a supply 

 of fertilizers as it is a faith in the business, and pluck to take hold 

 and i)us]i it to an extent amounting to something. Stock has been 

 more improved in this town than in any other section of the count}". 

 This improvement is still going on, and one of our citizens has 

 recently been into another pai't of the State and purchased breeding 

 animals for the further improvement of the stock in town. 



I have used rock weed and muscle mud with ver}" good advantage, 

 both on cla}- loam and on highland soil. 



The afternoon was devoted to a discussion of the ' ' Profits of 

 Stock Breeding," participated in b}'- the members of the Board and 

 b}' farmers present. 



In the evening a paper on the " Profits of Dairying" was read by 

 J. K. Hammond, the member from Oxford, which will be found in 

 another place in this report. 



HOME SURROUNDINGS. 

 By Erastus Lermond. 



To improve the appearance of the grounds around our dwellings, 

 in our fields, and along the roadsides, is a topic that ma}' be a little 

 out of the line of farming proper, and, at first thought, appear to 

 be of but little importance ; yet, if the subject could be impressed 

 upon the minds of farmers generally, with a force sufficient to 

 awaken a general interest in that direction, it would produce a 

 greater change in the appearance of the farming districts than anj'- 

 thing within the scope of a practical imagination. 



When a farmer lives for the purpose of gain onl}', with no regard 

 for the appearance of his out-door home — with no desire to comply 

 with, or anticipate the wishes of his family in l)eautifying his 

 grounds — he will be unfit to enjoy riches after he has gained them. 



It is a duty, and ought to be a pleasure, that we owe our families, 

 ourselves, and the comnumity, to im[)rovc the appearance of our 

 home surroundings. AVe are expected to make a decent appear- 

 ance in dress and deportment ; then why not try to have all look 

 well about the home, and thus make it attractive, instead of repul- 

 sive. Attractive homes enlarge and educate the mind, and tend to 



