96 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



found in the county of Norfolk. When ploughing green 

 sward, my practice has been to have two or three boys follow 

 the plough, and throw the stones out of the furrows. 



" In a communication printed in the Dedham Gazelle, 

 last August, I was misunderstood to say that one horse had 

 done all the work on my farm to that time ; whereas, I have 

 kept oxen for the last six or seven years. My horse, however, 

 did all the work for about twenty years, besides the labor 

 usually required of a family horse, except ploughing green 

 sward in autumn, cross ploughing in spring, and drawing 

 heavy stones for walls. I think, too, that I received quite as 

 much for work done by the horse away from the farm, as I 

 paid for the use of cattle on it. 



" My crops have been such as are usually raised on farms in 

 the vicinity ; hay, however, has been my principal object. 

 My pastures have very much deteriorated ; having no manure 

 to spare, I have done nothing to improve them. About fifteen 

 acres could be ploughed, but a large portion of them is so 

 full of stones, that ploughing would be attended with great 

 expense. 



" I always intended to live within my income, and for want 

 of means, my improvements have necessarily been slow. For 

 the first ten years, I sold about fifty dollars worth of wood per 

 year ; otherwise, having no resources but my farm, in order to 

 support my family, stock my farm, pay for it, and for my 

 buildings, I have been obliged to study profit, rather than 

 fancy. Having now paid for the farm and buildings, and 

 being free from debt, I consider myself, in one sense, an inde- 

 pendent man ; and am enjoying that happy state for which the 

 wise man prayed, — possessing ' neither poverty nor riches.' " 



This record speaks for itself of the persevering industry, 

 firmness and prudence of its author. And we can bear unhes- 

 itating testimony to the present comfort, contentment and 

 respectability of the man, part of whose history it unfolds. 



There are many instances, in our county, of men contenting 

 themselves with but few acres of ground, who, by judicious 

 management and great industry, have maintained large families 

 in all the real comfort and respectability which much greater 

 wealth could command, and whose example is becoming of 



