472 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
The right centre, therefore, would be at the centre of the land from 
which the produce is brought to the homestead, and to which the 
manure is returned. The existence of a canal or railway-station 
would require special consideration, as would also the possibility of 
obtaining water as a motive power. A plentiful su23ply of good, 
water for the stock is a vital point ; and the quality of soil is not 
to be neglected. Chalk or gravel is best, and clay or springy sand 
the worst. In balancing the pros and cons, it should be borne in 
mind that of existing objections some might be remediable, others 
not so ; and these latter should be allowed the greater influence in 
determining the site. 
The aspect of the projected steading would be the next considera- 
tion. The Eomans were so impressed with the importance of a 
good aspect, that their writers on farm buildings laid down the 
most stringent rules for obtaining it. To secure the greatest benefit 
from the sun, and protection from cold winds, the homestead should 
be so placed that a north and south line should be the diagonal to 
its square. There could be no difficulty in determining, as another 
settled principle of universal application, that the most ample 
means of ventilation should be provided, so that the air within the 
buildings might bo always pure, and admitted without draught. 
There was some truth both for man and beast in the old proverb — 
" Wien the wind comes in at a bole. 
Thou it's time to think of j'ouv soul." 
Eotten lungs, brolcen wind, and damaged sight, were some of the 
more prominent evils which the absence of pure air inevitably in- 
duced in men and cattle. " For that which befalleth the sons of 
men, befalleth beasts ; even one thing befalleth them— as the one 
dieth, so dieth the other : they have all one breath." 
Modern chemistry has established the fact that digestion is 
slow combustion, and food fuel. The bear lays in fat at the approach 
of winter to keep him warm through its frosts. It is then necessary, 
as a matter of economy, to keep the stock warm, as conducive to 
condition. Fatting-stock requires more warmth, and should there- 
fore have more sheltered buildings, than growing stock, with which 
the development of muscle is of more importance than fat. But the 
rule of Nature is, use — not abuse. Warmth creates fat ; but too 
much warmth melts it ; and this must be guarded against, and 
the means afforded of regulating heat and cold, otherwise it will be 
found that what was right for one season would bo wrong for another. 
It is the same with light. Its presence is an absolute essential to 
health ; but its excess during the summer months is injurious, and 
at such times flies torment the animals to an injurious extent ; 
conti'ol, therefore, over the admission of light is indispensable. 
Tlie question of box-feeding is so important in its bearing on 
agriculture, and in its influence on the arrangement of a home- 
stead, that it is necessary to determine this point as a principle 
before proceeding with our plan. The objections made to box- 
feeding, when originally introduced, were based chiefly on the injury 
