FARMS. Ill 



Grapevines are planted at the base of this huge stone heap, and 

 the vines spread themselves over its surface. Though yet 

 young, they bore considerably the present year, and, doubtless, 

 will in a few years cover the stones and produce abundance of 

 fruit — thus converting what would otherwise be an unsiglitly 

 object into one of beauty and profit. Tiie grapes are of native 

 kinds, but selected on account of their superiority. Wo have 

 previously noticed Mr. ]\[etcalf's success in cultivating native 

 grapes, which he finds no difficulty in disposing of, in various 

 ways, at a satisfactory profit. 



A call at the farm of Walter Fisher closed our examinations 

 in Franklin. In addition to what has been said of this farm in 

 a previous report, we may say that its appearance the present 

 year was iu no respect inferior to what it has heretofore been. 

 The principal point to which our attention was directed was the 

 condition of a tract which has been reclaimed from a rough 

 pasture, for which Mr. Fisher has received a premium of the 

 society. A considerable portion of the tract has been thoroughly 

 subdued and cultivated, and is laid down to grass, with a surface 

 so smooth that a mowing-machine can be made to cut the grass 

 as closely as is expedient. Other portions are still in process of 

 improvement, and present favorable indications. The experi- 

 ment has now reached a point which, we think, justifies the 

 conclusion that it will "pay. 



It is proper that some mention should be made in this report 

 of the experiments in irrigation, as conducted by Artemas 

 Newell, of Needham, and E. L. Metcalf, of Franklin, and 

 Avhicli have been spoken of in previous reports. The chairman 

 visited Mr. Newell's grounds on the twenty-fifth of June. The 

 water was found flowing between the pear trees and the straw- 

 berry beds as usual ; but in some respects its advantages had 

 not, this season, been equal to what they have formerly been. 

 The season, after May, having been a wet one, there was less 

 necessity for supplying water artificially. A considerable 

 portion of the strawberries were killed by frost ; so that in any 

 event this crop could not show to so good advantage as iu 

 previous years. In consequence of the copious and frequent 

 lains, some of Mr. Newell's strawberry beds, on rich lands not 

 irrigated, were nearly as productive as the irrigated beds. 



