FARMS. 109 



will all probably be dead by the time the apple trees need all 

 the ground. 



A call at the farm of Henry Golding ended our observations 

 in Dover for this time. This farm has been previously visited 

 by the committee. The farm is noted for its large orchards and 

 the large quantity and fine quality of cider produced. Many 

 of the apple trees are quite old, though still productive, the 

 soil being well adapted to them. A flourishing young orchard 

 is coming into bearing. Mr. Golding sells large quantities of 

 cider at a good price. It is filtered through sand, as it runs 

 from the press, and sold immediately from the filter at from 

 four to five dollars per barrel — the barrel being returned or 

 paid for. Mr. Golding is extending his reclamation of wet lands 

 — his former operations of this kind having been quite satisfac- 

 tory. He uses the Buckeye mowing machine. 



An appointment was made to visit Franklin on the 28th of 

 July. Here, again, rain interfered with our designs, and tlie 

 chairman found himself the only member of the committee 

 present out of the town of Franklin. Nevertheless, examina- 

 tions, though necessarily somewhat hurried and imperfect, were 

 made of a few farms. First, we reviewed the farm of S. W. 

 Richardson, which was visited and reported on in 1860. Our 

 object, in part, on the present occasion, was to learn the result 

 of certain improvements which had been commenced at tlie 

 time of our former visit, particularly the result of draining 

 some kinds of soil. In 1860, drains were made where a " hard- 

 pan," or deposit of iron, had rendered the subsoil, even to 

 within a few inches of the surface, very hard, it being almost 

 impervious to water, and ungenial to plants. It was deemed 

 important to ascertain whether the sinking of drains in the 

 soil would produce such a change as would render it suitable 

 for the growth of crops. We are happy to say that the desired 

 change has already been effected to some extent. On a portion 

 of the drained land a heaA^y crop of Indian corn was growing 

 at the time of our last visit, and on another portion a fine crop 

 of potatoes — a considerable part of the land occupied by the 

 latter having never produced a crop of any value before tlie 

 late improvements were made. Mr. Richardson states that the 

 " Jiard-pan" is evidently undergoing a decomposition, as the air 



