384 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



has been attended with a fair degree of success, — certainly 

 it has ever been an increasing pleasure, — and if from the 

 " himp of experience " we may light the pathway of another, 

 who may be la^'ing hold of one of these waste places to make 

 it "bud and blossom like the rose," then truly our work 

 will be most gratifying. 



To the many who, having l)ecome weary with the close 

 application, long hours and exacting demands of manufacture 

 and trade, and possessing, it may be, a small capital with 

 which they desire to establish homes and become owners 

 of a few acres, — to such we say, make haste slowly ; never- 

 theless, commence at once. 



First decide towards what branch of farm husbandry your 

 tastes and inclinations would lead you, as these should have 

 a controlling inlluence in the selection of your future home. 

 Should you incline towards orcharding or the cultivation of 

 the smaller fruits, together with the keeping of poultry, 

 sheep, or swine, a higher, dryer and more arable soil, one 

 more responsive and easier of cultivation, should be selected 

 than if the cultivation of the grasses for dairy purposes is 

 contemplated. And, further, in deciding upon location, the 

 crops to ])e cultivated should have due influence. If perish- 

 able articles are to be the products of the farm, then a loca- 

 tion near some good market will be more essential, while, 

 on the other hand, products with keeping qualities may seek 

 a market long distances from the scenes of their production. 

 But, first of all, healthfulness should be the prime considera- 

 tion. Quick and thorough drainage around the buildings is 

 all-essential. Where this could not be secured we should 

 not consider the premises worth reclaiming. In fact, a place 

 where water stands in pools either around or under the farm 

 l)uildings, at any season of the year, we should shun as we 

 would a pest-house. 



Again, it will by no means follow that social advantages 

 must be sacrificed to secure a rural home. Hundreds of de- 

 sirable farms scattered over New England are upon the 

 market awaiting customers on most reasonable terms. Many 

 of them are in neighl)orhoods where the church bell rings out 

 upon the Sabl)ath morn, the school-house is in sight, and 

 where stores, depot, post-ofiice and kind neighbors are all 



