132 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the past year, and the buildings are in good condition. The 

 income from the dairy I have not kept as accurately during 

 the last year as formerly. Can say, however, that it has 

 been satisfactory. My bills for labor, including board the past 

 year, have been four hundred and seven dollars. This does 

 not include my own labor, or that of my son, now fifteen 

 years of age. 



CnicoPEE, November 1, 1858. 



NORFOLK. 



From the Report of the Supervising Covimittee. 



It were absurd, of course, to suppose that all may surround 

 themselves with the comforts, conveniences and enjoyments 

 wealth can procure. Few have a larger share of means than 

 dally necessities require ; and many can only with difficulty 

 avoid or escape the embarrassments of debt. Still, the .impor- 

 tance of making the place, where life is to be spent and its chief 

 happiness found, neat and tasteful in exterior appearance and 

 comfortable and convenient in interior appointments, cannot be 

 doubted. Far more important is it than the enlargement of 

 one's acres, the increase of his title-deeds or bonds and stocks. 

 Especially is the possession of an attractive and delightful home, 

 offering abundant means of mental improvement and social 

 recreation and enjoyment, to be counted among the best safe- 

 guafl:"ds of youthful virtue and sources of youthful happiness. 

 The associations which cluster around such a home will be 

 strong inducements, also, to the farmer's sons to continue and 

 be content with the occupation of their father. 



Let the farmer then consider it a duty to provide for his home 

 all the comforts, conveniences and enjoyments he can honestly 

 afford. Let him recognize his obligation to promote the social 

 welfare and strengthen the social ties of his neighborhood. Let 

 him cultivate the earth, not merely to fill his barns and granaries 

 by exhausting its fruitfulness, but to preserve and increase it; 

 not merely to make it yield him food, raiment and shelter, but 

 to adorn it with shade, and fruits, and flowers. Let it furnish 

 him, as it may, with a habitation which shall become more and 



