FARMS. 107 



was never ploughed, and could not be ploughed without first 

 expending an immense amount of labor in removing boulders. 

 Such situations seem well adapted to apple trees. A consider- 

 able portion of the ground where Mr. B. cuts his hay, was never 

 ploughed from the same cause just mentioned, and yet it pro- 

 duces heavy crops of grass of good quality. 



In August the committee visted the farm of A. A. Lawrence, 

 of Brookline. This farm is situated in Newton, and contains 

 120 acres. It was purchased by Mr. L. in 1860, at which time 

 it was much out of order, both as regards the condition of the 

 soil, and the buildings and fences. Since Mr. L. took possession, 

 various improvements have been made, and otliers are in pro- 

 gress. Handsome and substantial walls have been built along 

 the highways, and for the principal division lines of the farm. 

 The house has been remodelled, and rendered tasteful exte- 

 riorly and convenient internally. A store barn has been built, 

 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, with a deep cellar under the 

 whole. The manure from the cattle and horses is deposited in 

 the cellar, where muck and loam are frequently thrown over to 

 absorb the urine. 



A considerable portion of the farm lies on the sides of pretty 

 high hills, and is naturally quite moist — too much so for the 

 success of crops in general. Drains have been made here with 

 very satisfactory results. A basin on another part of the farm, 

 formerly a pond for a considerable portion of the year, has 

 been drained the present season, and the ground promises to 

 become valuable. Most of the soil of the farm is a strong, 

 rather tenacious loam, and under the system of high manuring 

 and thorough cultivation which Mr. L. practices, cannot fail to 

 become very fertile and productive. 



Mr. Lawrence keeps twenty cows, twelve of which, on the 

 average, are in milk all the time. Nearly all the milk is used 

 for making butter, the quantity of which, weekly, ranges from 

 forty to seventy pounds. It is all sold to regular customers at 

 fifty cents per pound, at which rate a better return is probably 

 obtained for their milk than could be had in any other way. 

 The dairy is managed with much care and scrupulous neatness, 

 and the butter, as would be inferred from the price it brings, 

 is of superior quality. The cows are generally fine. Some of 

 the best are a cross of the Jersey, and a very fine bull of this 



