II 



THE LIFE OF THE FARM-COTTAGE IN NOVA SCOTIA 



THE newly arrived should be in no great haste to invest his 

 money in land before he spends a few months in looking 

 about him and learning something of land values. He should 

 school himself in the necessary, if painful, art of driving a sharp 

 bargain. Otherwise, he may drop a portion of his capital to no 

 purpose. Besides getting a comfortable house or a pretty view 

 from his verandah, there are other considerations that should guide 

 him in the choice of a homestead such as the social advantages 

 of his surroundings, and the opportunities for obtaining sport 

 without undue effort and expense ; railway facilities, and good 

 schools should he be the father of a family. 



Nova Scotia is pre-eminently suitable for the working farmer 

 with a moderate capital. To no other part of the Empire can the 

 small capitalist with a practical knowledge of farming emigrate in 

 order to obtain conditions more favourable to success. The man 

 who owns a well-cultivated farm can make himself as comfortable 

 and independent as a farmer can be anywhere. From the land he 

 may acquire almost all the necessaries of life, while he has the satis- 

 faction of knowing that year by year his property is growing in 

 value. 



A suitable homestead may be acquired from perhaps 300 up 

 to say 800, and often accompanied by an orchard of apple trees 

 whose produce will go far towards defraying the interest on the 

 outlay. A new-comer will do wisely thoroughly to identify himself 

 with his adopted land, avoid sneering at things colonial, and endeav- 

 our to place himself in an attitude of sympathy, while making 

 allowance for differences which sometimes may grate harshly. 

 Leaving class prejudices behind him, he should not assume superi- 

 ority for English ways and ideas in all matters, big or little ; for the 

 colonist can often teach him things worth knowing, and give him 

 useful points in practical matters. If these rules are observed, 

 and a man has made up his mind to ' burn his ships ' and leave the 

 old life behind him, I fail to see why he cannot lead a pleasant, 

 care-free, and happy existence out here, and find his compensations 



