112 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



PLYMOUTH. 



Report of the Committee. 



In 1859, the society offered three premiums for the most 

 judiciously-managed farms, for a term of four years, the expenses 

 and income to be reported annually. Only two farms were 

 entered, one owned by Orlando Shaw, of Middleborough, the 

 other, by Ephraim B. Thompson of Halifax. During two years 

 Mr. Shaw conducted his farm with much energy, and accom- 

 plished very valuable improvements, but considering it his duty 

 to enter the army, his farming was discontinued. By this change 

 of plan, he, of course, forfeited all claim to either of the pre- 

 miums, but in consideration of the industry with which he had 

 labored, and the partial success he had attained, this committee 

 felt it to be their duty to recommend a gratuity. 



Mr. Thompson has persevered, through the full period of four 

 years, in managing his farm according to the requisitions of the 

 society, and in so doing, has met with very general and very 

 satisfactory success. The committee, therefore, consider him 

 entitled to the society's first premium. 



It is to be regretted that there was not a larger number of 

 farms entered for the offered premiums, so that there might be 

 one, at least, of each class of farms in the county. The poor 

 farmer, the owner of a small number of acres of unproductive 

 land, is very apt to consider the success of his comparatively 

 rich neighbor as beyond his reach, so that any statement of the 

 means by which this success was accomplished, would, for him, 

 have very little interest. The wealthy farmer, furnished with 

 means to carry on his business in a large way, expects large 

 results, and looks upon the labors of his poorer townsman as of 

 too little importance to demand attention. The farm, the man- 

 agement of which has been reported to the society annually, for 

 the last four years, is, fortunately, of average size, of average 

 quality of soil, has an owner of average means, and, in all 

 respects, is as good a representative of the farms of the county 

 as could well be selected. 



In making improvements, Mr. Thompson has always pro- 

 ceeded with very great prudence, and, as a consequence, is now 

 able to look back upon his labor without regret. He has tried 



