FIRST STEPS TOWARD THE HOME 51 



I am sure that one-half of all the sickness in the 

 country comes from the use of surface water, taken 

 from shallow wells or tainted streams, and yet not 

 one-half of our country homes are decently supplied 

 with wells perhaps more of them with cisterns. 

 I asked a physician of very high standing to what 

 he attributed most of the ailments with which he 

 had to deal. His answer was: "First, bad water; 

 second, bad habits. Nearly all sickness is prevent- 

 able, but above all things be careful what you drink, 

 and then how much and what you eat." 



Much more attention is being paid to wind-breaks 

 and hedges, and I have already suggested in my 

 last chapter how very important I think it is to look 

 out for these defences. A stout wind-break against 

 northwest winds, or wherever your sweeping storms 

 come from, will modify climate materially. It will 

 make a difference of at least two degrees from one 

 side of the road to the other, and with this difference 

 in temperature must be counted in the sweeping winds 

 that carry the moisture off your land and dry up your 

 foliage. 



Everybody knows the advantage of getting down 

 under the protecting slope of a hill. The wind leaps 

 over you, and you find that in the middle of the val- 

 ley it is rougher and colder than at your protected 

 home. A planted wind-break is, however, the best 

 that we can secure or construct over large reaches 

 of our country. For quick growth and excellent 

 service the best material will be found in those ever- 



