214 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



conditions of good health, of pleasant, well-directed, useful 

 labor, and the means of intellectual, moral, and social culture. 

 This the farmer must bear in mind in locating for life ; and, 

 if the surroundings where he is compelled to locate do not 

 readily give the conditions of all these, he must be prepared 

 to do so much more in the family itself, to supplement the 

 deficiency. 



The first thing, then, in the choice of a farmer's home, 

 is that it be in as healthful locality as possible. I refer 

 now to the general character of the region. Then, on the 

 land chosen for a farm, there is often great choice of location 

 as to healthfulness. As a general rule, the buildings should 

 be placed on the highest ground of the farm, if it is readily 

 accessible. It is wonderful what change for the better we 

 can often secure by going a quarter of a mile, and raising 

 one or two hundred feet even. On a hill we may dwell in 

 clear, dry air; while our neighbors half a mile away may 

 spend their autumn and spring nights in fogs and chill. 

 High ground, giving good drainage for buildings, and pure 

 water for the well, is the first thiug to be secured. If water 

 can be secured from a spring that comes directly from the 

 deep strata of rocks, so much the better. Never mind the 

 fear of cool breezes on the hill: they will not be half as 

 fatal, at the worst, as the damp of the valleys below ; and 

 they can soon be wonderfully modified by evergreen screens 

 properly placed. 



In the second place, make your location as near good 

 neighbors as you can. It is a good thing to learn to live 

 peaceably with our fellow-men, to help them, and to have 

 their help at times. And the time is coming, I tliink, when 

 neighbors will co-operate in w'ork more than the}'" do now, 

 especially in removing all fences except those required to 

 confine their own cattle. 



Vicinity to school and church is a great advantage ; though 

 I believe the time is coming when much more of the educa- 

 tion of the children, both intellectual and moral, will be 

 done by parents than is now done. Still, the good school is 

 the great thing now to aid in training our children; and 

 the moral, religious, and social effect of the church, and the 

 proper observance of the sabbath, are in no place more 

 beautiful in their effect than in the farmer's home. 



