FARMS. • 105 



FARMS. 



ESSEX. 



Report of the Committee. 



From the course of action adopted by the society for the 

 present year, in raising their premiums for farm management 

 from thirty to fifty dollars, it is obvious that the object is, in 

 their judgment, one of great importance, if not paramount to 

 all others. The object of the trustees was two-fold ; first, to 

 bring the attention of farmers back, if possible, to the same 

 view of the subject which was taken by the society and the 

 public in the days of our early history ; and secondly, to draw 

 out such statements of the various modes tof management, as 

 when published by the society should stimulate others to 

 engage in similar improvements. 



But the society seems doomed to disappointment. Why it 

 should be so, is more mysterious than ever. To say nothing of 

 fancy farming, in which old Essex is certainly not wanting, it 

 is believed that the general style of substantial, productive 

 farming here, is not exceeded, if equalled, in any other part of the 

 State. And yet, notwithstanding the large premiums held out 

 for the present year, two claimants only have appeared, and for 

 some reason one of them has withdrawn. Two visits were 

 made by the committee — the first in June, the second in Sep- 

 tember. 



George F. Devereux, of Danvers, is the only claimant. His 

 statement will be read with interest. From the run-down con- 

 dition in which he found his farm two years ago, he has con- 

 trived to bring it into such a state that he is straitened for room 

 where " he may bestow his fruits and his goods." He has 

 already expended one thousand dollars upon the buildings in 

 repairs, and had, at the time of the committee's visit in Sep- 

 tember, the frame of a barn upon the ground for raising, sixty 



by forty feet. Other improvements are projected and in pro- 

 u 



