PRACTICAL CARP CULTURE. 19 



that the rainfall will be more evenly distributed ; that the evaporation 

 from the ponds in the heated season will moisten and purify the air, 

 destroy disease germs and contribute to better health ; that the immense 

 and devastating freshets of our great rivers will be things of the past; that 

 the nearness of water and the evaporations from it will affect beneficially all 

 crops, and that our farmers in their provisions against drouth, like vacci- . 

 nation for smallpox, if overtaken by drouth, will suffer less from it. 



A good pond of water, under proper control, adds to the beauty and 

 commercial value of any farm, in other ways than those already men- 

 tioned. No article of diet is more healthful than that of fish, with a pond 

 well stocked with fish on a farm, it is no trick to have fish any day, and 

 every day for that matter at any of the meals of the day. A luxury 

 provided by Providence in exchange for salt pork which is the staple 

 meat of the farmer ; not of choice but from necessity ; fresh meat not being 

 available, and if available, greatly adding to the cost of living. 



A fish pond adds to the home attractions of the farm and makes it a 

 pleasanter place for the sons and daughters of the home, a place to bathe, 

 to boat, to skate, and above all, a place to fish. Where is the boy or man 

 that does not like to angle for the finny tribe? If you have him, send 

 him to Barnum, he has a place among his world's curiosities for all such. 

 How many farmers hitch up their teams and take their families, or their 

 boys and drive half the night to reach a fishing ground by daylight, then 

 labor all day, rain or shine, and come home in the middle of the next night 

 with a string of small suckers, or other valueless fish; the team is used 

 up, the whole party is exhausted and can't half work for the next three 

 days. Disgust, prevails for the time and a general swearing off follows; 

 but Lord bless you it's only until the next fishing fever is on. Like all 

 other fevers to which the human family is subject, it has it periodicity of 

 attack, and is recurring as the ebb and flow of the tide. The panacea for 

 all these ills is the carp pond on the farm. You know where the fishing 

 ground is ; you have not to hunt for it, and when found, ascertain that 

 others have been there before you and taken all that were worthy of 

 capture. 



The ice harvest of many ponds will pay better than any crop that 

 could be grown on the ground occupied by the pond. This is in localities 

 where the ice can be 'disposed of; where it cannot be disposed of, if har- 

 vested and used in the dairy department of the farm it will pay a good 

 dividend, and in the heated season it is always a luxury in the house. 



Other reasons might be assigned, but these are sufficient to demon- 

 strate the importance of water farming, and the pleasure and profit to be 

 derived from it. 



