ESSEX SOCIETY. 33 



ling establishment was not gorgeous or expensive. He was 

 wheeled on a common wheelbarrow through the walks of his 

 grounds, to show and explain to the committee the manner of 

 reclaiming his land and cultivating his trees. Some of his 

 standard trees had fruit upon them. Instead of a bush, which 

 the quince usually exhibits, his quinces were trained to a hand- 

 some tree, having on them some fine specimens of fruit. His 

 method of defending his plums from the ravages of the Curcu- 

 lio, was to the committee, new, and seems to have been suc- 

 cessful. But whether it could be practiced on a more extended 

 scale, the committee say not. They are of opinion, that, although 

 for want of means in the commencement, the reclaiming of his 

 land has been attended with much expense, yet, from present 

 appearances, he will receive a rich pecuniary reward, when his 

 trees shall be fit for market. 



Mr. Wilson's statement is a history of himself, as well as his 

 cultivation, from his youth. The committee are of opinion, 

 that such persevering industry, and successful management, in 

 cultivating the soil under the many disadvantageous circum- 

 stances which have attended Mr. Wilson, being a cripple from 

 his youth, should not pass without a favorable notice, and they 

 award him the sum of $10 00. 



The committee having visited and examined all the farms 

 entered for examination, and being near the farm of Joseph 

 How, of Methuen, who had received a number of premiums 

 from the society, for his good management and successful culti- 

 vation, embraced the opportunity afforded, of passing over his 

 farm. Having obtained the first premium of the society, for 

 the best managed farm in the county, has not bounded his en- 

 terprise in farming. The chairman of this committee had vis- 

 ited and examined Mr. How's farm seven years since. Such 

 alterations and improvements had been made in it since that 

 time, as to change the whole appearance to such an extent, that 

 he was unable to find it, without inquiry. A new and ele- 

 gant house had been erected, ornamented with trees and flow- 

 ers in front, and with a hedge, or live fence, extending for a 

 considerable distance on either side. 



His homestead farm consists of one hundred and twenty- 

 5 



