CUMBERLAND COUNTY SOCIETY. ^53 



house, a most substantial structure, forty feet wide by ninety long, 

 and three stories high, nearly completed, was examined from cellar 

 to cupola ; and from the last named place, we saw, not all the king- 

 doms of the world, but the greater part of Poland and New Glou- 

 cester, not forgetting to mention Isaiah's kingdom of seven hundred 

 acres of gardens, fields, pastures, and woodland. The farmers of 

 Cumberland county may here find the real Devon stock, good enough 

 to please even a Durham "fancier." 



We next visited Mr. Holden of Otisfield. His farm is situated 

 on a rather high ridge, and it is worthy of notice that his fruit and 

 forest trees, upon the ridge, are green and flourishing, while in the 

 valleys on either side, and one hundred rods distant, the oaks, 

 beeches, and maples, show a sad array of leafless branches. Mr. H. 

 is adding to his buildings and improving his fields. 



Crossing Crooked river and entering Harrison, we find Mr. Henry 

 Buck, making a general fight with stumps, rocks, alders, blackberry 

 bushes, sweet ferns {comptonia asplenifolia), and old buildings. 

 The battle is evidently in his favor, for each year he gains a field. 

 Beware, friend Buck, lest your outposts become too much extended 

 and difficult to defend. 



In Naples, Messrs. John G. Cannell and J. Green, each with an 

 eye single to the Society's premium of $100, are doing with their 

 might whatsoever their hands find to do, in improving old and clear- 

 ing new fields, fencing, &c. 



Col. J. P. Perley of Bridgton, seeks to win a prize by under- 

 draining, by improved fences, clearing new lands, &c. He will 

 doubtless find a prize in his land when underdrained, whether he 

 receives one from the Society or not. 



On "Baldwin Plains," we find the Rev. Cyril Pearl; and what- 

 ever may be thought of his judgment, his courage can but be ad- 

 mired, in daring to locate upon a spot, at first sight, so unpromising ; 

 and yet, sterile and uninviting as Mr. Pearl's lands appear, the wise 

 Maker did not turn off even this nook of creation without providing 

 the means to make it habitable. A sandy plain here, — a rocky 

 ledge there, — and a muck swamp yonder, — all within a stone's 

 throw, when judiciously commingled, with such additions as experi- 

 ence and science dictate, will form a soil which will reward the labor 



