682 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



considered an ideal farmer, and it Avas truly said of him that liis home 

 contained tlie finest bathroom contained on any farm within the common- 

 wea^tli of Indiana. Wo refer to Kx-Governor James A. ]Mount. Care 

 should be exercised also in the location and erection of the other buildings. 

 The barn should not be located on a higher level than the house or too 

 near it. It should be so constriicted that the animals, too, may have 

 fresh air, light and sutticient warmth. It is said that a merciful man 

 is merciful to his beast and in no way is this more essential than in the 

 daily care and in providing for their comfort. The henhouse pig-pen, 

 corncrib, implement shed, snnjliehouse and icehouse should all be con- 

 structed on the same general plan, that must and mildew will be avoided 

 at all times. For, while not, strictly speaking, a part of the home, these 

 things are all intimately associated with it. Here let me briefly say 

 that all well-managed farms should have their own icehouse. Many a 

 farmer spends money foolishly that would pay for the erection of an ice- 

 house and that would be a blessing to his wife and daughters iu the 

 making of butter and handling of milk and cream on the farm. 



One of the chief soiu'ces of disease is the water supply. Impure water 

 and impure air are the most prolitic causes of disease. Arrange to 

 provide clean, unpolluted, pure water for man and beast. If proper 

 sanitary requirements are complied Avlth after Ijuilding a home, the farmer 

 may reasonaldy expect his family to be healthy. On too many farms 

 filth in abundance in one form or another is permitted to accumulate 

 about the premises, furnishing breeding places for disease. This should 

 not be permitted. The litter from the stables, pigpen and chicken-house 

 should be carted away frequently and applied to the soil. Disinfectants 

 should be used frequently, and there are many with which farmers 

 should be familiar, such as lime scattered about the premises and a 

 little copper is adtled to good advantage if used as a whitewash. Bichlo- 

 ride of mercury combined with alcohol is a most efficient remedy against 

 all vermin. Many others could be added, but there is one article which 

 should be in every household. This is permanganate of potassium. By 

 its use it can be determined whether drinking water contains organic 

 matter. If the water is pure this article will impart a beautiful purple 

 color, if organic matter is present the color will be a dirty brown. If 

 farmers will interest themselves more in the health of the community and 

 have frequent discussions of this subject before bodies of this character, 

 it may prove helpful in l)ringing about a l)etter sanitary condition through- 

 out the country. 



