382 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



pumped into open troughs in open barn yards, that is bad 

 enougli, l)ut to force cattle out in storms and deep snows to 

 seek for it is not only inhuman but wasteful to the owner. 

 There are hundreds of farms where, simply by lengthening 

 the barn pump, water can be pumped into a tank in the cow 

 stal)le, where it won't freeze, and from there for $5 it can be 

 distributed all over the barn. All stock can be easily taught 

 to come to you when in pasture at the sound of a whistle. 

 It is heard farther than the human voice and saves miles of 

 travel. 



Among the pleasantest features of farm life is the planting 

 of shade and fruit trees, including ofraftinir the hxtter. To- 

 gether they are an exhaustless source of pleasure and profit. 

 I count among my priceless treasures an elm tree that my 

 father planted about seventy years ago in front of his and 

 now my home. Its topmost branches receive the earliest 

 kisses of the summer morning sun. In them the first robin 

 and l)lucbird cheer my heart in vigorously and joyously jn'o- 

 claiming that spring is again at my threshold bursting the 

 bolts of winter, and inviting me to the delights of hastening 

 summer. It towers above everything in my neighborhood, 

 and by it I can locate my home from many distant places. 

 For seventy years it has protected me from summer's heat, 

 and on how many winter nights of hurricane gales has it 

 roared its lullal)y in my sleep. Twice it has received the 

 lightning's blast. Once it sacrificed limb upon limb when 

 my father's house and my birth-place was devoured by fire. 

 But generous nature hurries to repair all such ravages, and 

 it stands to-day my father's most precious monument, in 

 glorious form and symmetry. Long may it wave ! ]\Iany 

 others have been added to it until the shade trees of my own 

 village make it a most desirable summer residence. A clean 

 lawn, with plenty of shade trees outdoors, plenty of news- 

 papers, books and pictures indoors, and a decent dispo- 

 sition will make any home pleasant. 



In closing, permit me to say that I think that in farm work 

 especially, whether in the field or stable, nothing is worth 

 doing at all unless it is well done. Such work always brings 

 pleasure, and generally some profit. The other kind brings 

 neither. 



