116 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ESSEX. 



Report of the Committee. 



The committee appointed in 1848, upon the offer made by 

 Richard S. Fay, Esq., of Lynn, for the cultivation of oaks from 

 the acorn, have attended to the duty assigned them, and re- 

 port : — 



Tiiat on the 25th of September, 1847, a letter was received 

 from Mr. Fay, throuuh B. T. Reed, Esq., " proposing a prize of 

 one hundred dollars for the best plantation of oaks, of not less 

 than one acre. The prevailino; species to consist of the white 

 and the black, or the yellow oaks, to be grown from the acorn, 

 planted this autumn or in the spring, on land not now under 

 tillage, or in mowing. The prize to be awarded in 1852, and 

 the money, in the meantime, to be placed at interest for the 

 benefit of the successful competitor." In connection with this 

 offer, Mr. Fay remarks : " It will require no groat expenditure 

 of time, and no money, to enable any person to plant an acre, 

 and the advantage to the person so doing, would far exceed the 

 labor bestowed, even if an unsuccessful competitor." He de- 

 clines giving any specific instructions as to the planting, think- 

 ing " it will be best for every one to follow out their own ideas 

 upon the subject." 



Such was the offer, and such were the conditions on which 

 the money was entrusted to the trustees of this society, and 

 deposited with the treasurer. 



On the 23d of June, 1848, notice was given to the secretary, 

 by Dr. Andrew Nichols, of Danvers, that he had a plantation 

 of oaks, situate " on the north-western brow of Nichols' Hill, 

 in Middlcton, made about the middle of May, from acorns 

 gathered the last autumn, which had come up well, and the 

 plants were then from one to six inches in height. 



This plantation was entered by him for the premium offered 

 by Mr. Fay. 



Another entry was made by Mr. Wetherbee, for a plantation 

 made about the same time, on the farm of Mr. Fay, in Lynn. 



The committee visited both of these plantations, in the 



