138 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



drainage of the house should never be objected to on the score of 

 expense, as I have repeatedly heard them. No argument from me 

 is necessary to show that vigorous health is of more importance 

 than dollars and cents. But really these sanitary measures are far 

 less expensive than the old way of living. The saving of the 

 items of expense of one illness alone would be enough to re-ar- 

 range the whole place for a complete sanitarium. All that is 

 required is a little thoughtful consideration, a little brain-work, all 

 of which is within the power of him who successfully tills Con- 

 necticut soil. 



Thus we see that we can plan for the better arrangement and 

 healthfulness of the home. Will not the same discriminating 

 thought show that there are weaknesses in the list of the farmer's 

 food supply, and its method of preparation ? Is his diet a perfect 

 one for the labor required of him ? and is the boasted New Eng- 

 land cooking the best method of rendering available the nutritive 

 properties of that food ? Without attempting to show the scien- 

 tific classification of food, and all its details, which is an exten- 

 sive study in itself, we will pass at once to the character of the 

 food supply of the farm, and we find that nowhere else is there 

 such a variety presented for the selection of any one man, or class 

 of men. The beef, veal, mutton, lamb, pork, poultry, and egg 

 supply of the whole country is produced of course upon the farm ; 

 it belongs to the farmer, and he can make his selection from it 

 before it leaves him. So also with regard to grains, and vegeta- 

 bles which render the city markets so attractive. The long list of 

 meats, vegetables, and fruits, and the products of the dairy that 

 are shown by some farms is simply astonishing. Lists that will 

 show a complete food, possessing all necessary elements required 

 by the demands of the system. In addition to the articles men- 

 tioned, some of the more modern farms can show their carp and 

 trout ponds, still further augmenting the list. So then we see 

 that the farmer can have the best food of the land. Does he 

 make use of it for his table ? No, he sells it. I know that he 

 must have cash to meet his obligations, and that it must come 

 from the products of the farm, which is business-Hke and right. 

 But would it not be well to divide things a little, instead of selling 

 all the meat products except pork, would it not be better to dis- 

 pose of a portion of that, and retain some of the others, thus giv- 

 ing a variety to the diet ? The cash returns for an average of 



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