136 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



We have improved our farm, by building four hundred and 

 fifteen rods of stone wall, se^'-enty-eight rods of half wall. We 

 have grafted most of our old apple trees ; raised and set out 

 three hundred and seventy-five apple trees, five hundred peach 

 trees, one hundred pear, plum, cherry, and quince. We use 

 ashes about the roots of young trees, hoeing the grass from 

 them, and washing them with strong ley. In the absence of 

 A. Lawrence, for a year past, a boy has been employed seven 

 months, at seven dollars a month. Extra help, for haying, and 

 other work, fifty dollars. We came on the farm in 1839, and 

 have employed no capital, excepting such as the farm, with our 

 labor, has afforded. 



Pepperell, Sept. 3, 1849. 



Daniel Wesfo7i's Statement. 



My farm, which I offer for your consideration, consists of 

 eighty acres of land, forty-six of which I came in possession 

 of in 1828. In 1834, bought twenty-one acres of pasture land ; 

 in 1846, bought thirteen acres. The fences were in a very di- 

 lapidated condition ; and, from that time to the present, I have 

 new set old walls, and built new, between three and four hun- 

 dred rods ; cash paid for the whole, above my own labor, not 

 exceeding fourteen dollars. The buildings upon the premises 

 were poor ; the sum paid for repairs amounting to one thousand 

 dollars. When I first came upon my farm, it was in a very low 

 state of cultivation ; not producing more than twelve tons of 

 hay per annum. I have reclaimed ten acres of meadow land, 

 and brought the farm into such a condition, that I now cut be- 

 tween thirty and forty tons of hay. There is a diversity of 

 soil ; some consists of light, sandy loam ; other of black ; some 

 of a light, deep yellow loam. My method of raising corn, is to 

 plough the ground, the last of September, about eight inches 

 deep, keeping it as level as possible ; and, in the spring, cart on 

 forty loads of compost manure to the acre, spreading it over the 

 ground, using the harrow and cultivator ; cross it out, both 

 ways, three feet apart ; hoe twice, keeping it level j never 



