310 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



raise it. I was taken sick once and my tobacco barn blew 

 down, and I have had thanksgiving ever since, because it was 

 for my interest to give up that crop. But so far as the ques- 

 tion of morality is concerned, whatever action this board may 

 take, the people will raise tobacco right straight along, as 

 long as they find it for their interest to do so. There is a 

 great hue and cry against the vice of intemperance ; and it is a 

 great sin and evil. It is one of the temptations of the adver- 

 sary that are all around us. But man has the power to resist 

 them, and if he does not believe in chewing tobacco, let him let 

 it alone, let him exercise his influence over his children to in- 

 duce them to let it alone, and let public sentiment, as far 

 as it can control it, but do not denounce it as a sin. If you 

 do, your children will not believe you, and the devil will take 

 them one side and tell them it is not, and, from their natural 

 depravity and wickedness, they will be likely to believe him, 

 as have many of the children who liave gone before us, and 

 as will many of the children who will come after us. Only 

 use persuasion against it. You cannot stop it. I do not 

 think it is worth while to spend our breath on it. I will not 

 croak a word against tobacco raising, if you find it for your 

 interest to do so. 



Mr. Gold. I apprehend that the gentleman misunderstood 

 me if he understood that the Board of Agriculture desired in 

 any way to choke off or prevent a discussion on this subject. 

 It was not in my mind to do anything of that sort by the lit- 

 tle story to which I referred, but merely that we might pass 

 on as rapidly as possible to the otlier questions in the box, 

 which are full of matter. 



Question. What is the effect of Paris green on grapes ? 



Mr. Crosby. It does no harm to grapes, provided they are 

 not any where near fit to eat. 



Question. When is the time to mow Canada thistles ? 



Mr. Augur. From the 25tli of June to the 25th of Sep- 

 tember. 



Question. What is the effect of brine upon pear trees ? 



Mr. Cheever. It will kill them, if put on strong. 



