60 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



destroy our general confidence in the value of the arbor vitae 

 as a material for hedges. 



The arbor vitae hedge, entered for premium this year, belongs 

 to Horatio Chickering, Esq., on East Street, Dedham, and has 

 from the first been under the care of Mr. Robert Watt,, who, at 

 the recommendation of the committee, last year received the 

 diploma of the Society for his peculiar skill and taste in the 

 arrangement of hedges. It consists of two parts : one of seven 

 hundred and fifty-seven feet, planted by Mr. Watt in 1851, four 

 years ago last spring ; the other of six hundred and seventy- 

 two feet, planted in 1853, two years ago, — in all one thousand 

 four hundred and twenty-nine feet. The plants were brought 

 directly from the wojDds of Maine, and were set in tlic hedge 

 without having had the benefit of nursery planting. The 

 result has proved entirely satisfactory. Few, if any, plants 

 have been lost, though for the space of a rod, or perhaps half 

 a rod, near one of the buildings, the effect of a strong current 

 of wind is visible. The part of the hedge wdiich has been 

 longest set — that bordering on East and Walnut Streets — is 

 now about two or two and a half feet in height, perfectly 

 wedge-shaped, and cxliibits a beautiful and uniform appear- 

 ance. It is protected from depredation or injury on the side 

 next the street by a light, open fence, which is needful, where 

 a hedge of this material is planted at level on the borders of a 

 highway. 



Eben Wight, Chairman. 



Dedham, Oct. 17, 1855. 



PLOUGHING 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



We find that tliero is much difiercnce in opinion among 

 practical men in regard to the Michigan plough ; some speak 

 in the highest terms of it, wliile others, Avho have tried it, con- 

 demn it altogether. Upon one point we have a uniform testi- 



