272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and waste are not productive of pleasant reflections, and we 

 turn from them in disgust. 



We have heard of a man whose family comprised four per- 

 sons, and whose possessions in real estate consisted of one acre 

 of land and dwelling-house upon the same. The land was 

 mainly garden, on which the owner raised "truck" for the 

 family, and the whole lot was kept in a good state of fertility 

 with the excrements of the four bipeds composted with two cords 

 of peat yearly. A supply of the last named article was kept 

 constantly on hand, so that the vault received frequent additions. 

 The chamber slops were all saved with care ani thrown into 

 the same general receptacle. 



It need not surprise any one that two cords of excellent com- 

 post could be yearly made in that way, or that an acre of land 

 could be kept in fine condition for tlie reception of seed by the 

 yearly application of such a dressing. 



Does any one complain tliat such is small business — that it is 

 devoting much attention to a little matter. 



Let us see how that is. Our wives, our daughters or our 

 servant girls are continually engaged in what may appear in 

 themselves as little matters. Sweeping a chamber, cleaning up 

 a grease spot here, brushing down a spider's web there, washing 

 a few dishes or taking a few stitches with the thousand and one 

 little etceteras which have to be daily attended do, may not be 

 regarded as of much consequence when separately considered, 

 yet we all know that those things must be attended to promptly 

 and in detail in order to make home appreciable. Now we are 

 not sure that the gentleman of whom we have written devoted 

 any more time or attention to his compost heap than sanitary 

 measures would seem to demand. He certainly avoided all 

 danger of complaint by the health officers, which cannot be said 

 of all those who have " little houses." 



In our limited travels we have seen many of those " houses " 

 which were a big nuisance, and if complaint was not entered 

 against them, somebody neglected a duty. Farmers, to be sure, 

 are not, often visited by health officers, but we do not believe in 

 such a shadow of an apology as tliat for permitting what would 

 be regarded as an intolerable nuisance in the city, to remain 

 about their premises. 



