No. 85.J 95 



tee to observe, but they are happy to say that they form the excep- 

 tion and not the rule, and serve to show in bolder relief, the well 

 fenced and well tilled fields, where no noxious weed is suffered to 

 grow, clean fallows, commodious barns, filled to overflowing with 

 the luxuriant crops of the season, convenient sheds and yards, good 

 stock and other agreeable objects which they found in every part of 

 the county. * * * 



The farm to which the committee award the first premium, contains 

 141 acres, 111 of which are cleared and improved — cleared and im- 

 proved too, by the hands of their present worthy owner, who has oc- 

 cupied the premises twenty-five years. He entered the forest in the 

 vigor of youth, holding by contract, his only property, his axe — by 

 persevering industry he has changed his contract to a deed in fee sim- 

 ple — his log cabin to a substantial stone house — his rude shelter for 

 his cattle, constructed of crotches and poles, for commodious barns 

 and sheds ; he enjoys the luxury of good fruit and of an excellent 

 vegetable garden, ornamented with flowers and shrubbery — his out- 

 buildings are a model of neatness and convenience — his piggery com- 

 bines the advantages of a cellar for storing vegetables and a steamer 

 for cooking them, water and pasture range. His fences are of posts 

 and boards, and of cedar rails, well staked, dividing the farm into 

 fields of about 12 acres each, the whole under excellent cultivation 

 and free from weeds. This fair domain has by the labor of its own- 

 er's hands, been rescued from the wilderness state, and added to the 

 national wealth. In describing it and him, we but describe a class. 

 Thousands among us, like him, have cut and plowed their road to 

 competence, and like him, live to enjoy the fruits of their labor in 

 peace and happiness. 



The farm which takes the second premium is owned and occupied 

 by another pioneer settler, who entered the forest seventeen years ago, 

 his axe even purchased on credit, and by the same process has attain- 

 ed the same results. His farm contains 211 acres of land, ISO acres 

 of which are cleared and improved. His large well finished and fur- 

 nished frame house, three large barns, a well arranged piggery, poul- 

 try-house and yard — a cow stable with 32 admirably arranged stalls — 

 nine hundred rods of cedar rail fence, with upright stakes and caps — 

 a superior garden, fields in excellent condition and under high culti- 

 vation, attest the energy with which he has applied himself to 

 the task of improvement. Well merited success has crowned his ef- 

 forts and left him, apparently, little to desire in the way of worldly 

 comfort. 



Still another pioneer is the successful competitor for the third pre- 

 mium. He owns 300 acres of land, 220 of which are under cultiva- 

 tion. A stone house, large barns, an orchard of 500 thrifty apple 

 trees, a fine garden, well stocked with choice fruit, and one mile of 

 stone wall are some of the fruits of his labors. The same energy 

 which has produced these results, would, if circumscribed to a smaller 

 space, have left little to choose between this and the farms which 

 take the first and second premiums. 



