162 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



who are men of wealth and taste. Their large farms are well 

 tilled, well managed, and supplied with the finest stock. They 

 make valuable experiments in agricultural operations, intro- 

 ducing new methods, new implements, new seeds, new manures, 

 new breeds of ^attle. If their experiments fail, they easily sus- 

 tain the loss ; if they succeed, the community shares in the 

 benefit. These men give a higher character to the business, 

 and a large portion of the improvements in farming, within the 

 last few years, is due to their enterprise and public spirit. One 

 of these farms, that has never been mentioned in the Society's 

 transactions, and is well worthy of honorable notice, is that of 

 Mr. H. H. Hunnewell, in West Needham. It includes two 

 hundred acres, and is beautifully situated on both sides of 

 Wabun Lake, in one of the most delightful portions of the 

 county. A vast amount of money has been expended, with con- 

 summate taste and skill, upon the ornamental part of the estate. 

 The walls and hedges are substantial and handsome ; many 

 varieties of native and foreign trees and shrubs have been plant- 

 ed ; hot and cold houses contain grapes and flowers ; the build- 

 ings are models of neatness and convenience ; stock of the best 

 breed is kept ; and ditches and meadows supply to the barnyard 

 great quantities of mud ; artificial manures are freely used ; the 

 mowing machine has been^employed on the place for three 

 years, to the entire satisfaction of the proprietor ; wood i§ sawed, 

 corn ground, and water supplied to the house, stables and 

 garden by a steam-engine ; the land appropriated for farming 

 purposes appears to be thoroughly cultivated and to yield large 

 crops ; productive mowing grounds have been made out of 

 worthless meadows ; a^d in every department are evidences of 

 good judgment and practical skill. Orchards of apple and pear 

 trees have been planted with excellent success. Within six 

 years, thousands of trees of various kinds have been successfully 

 transplanted ; many acres of barren land brought into cultiva- 

 tion, and a pitch-pine plain has been converted into an elegant 

 farm. These results testify to the owner's enterprise, and to 

 his intelligent interest in the pursuits of rural life. We must, 

 also, add, tliat his readiness to exhibit both the methods and the 

 results of his operations, and to encourage, by the most liberal 

 display, the exhibitions of this society, together with his cour- 

 tesy and hospitality, render a visit to this farm as agreeable as it 



