120 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



same amount of labor bestowed upon it, as on larger farms. It 

 is very evident that our small farms, of seventy-five acres or 

 less, are much the most productive and profitable. 



The farm of Samuel M. Thomas next came under our inspec- 

 tion. Sixteen years ago his barn was destroyed by fire, with 

 all the hay of one year. The next year the crop of hay was 

 sold at auction. The farm was very much reduced, not produc- 

 ing more than one-third that it does now. He has, within the 

 last few years, built a new barn to contain all his produce, a 

 new house, sheds, carriage house and piggery. He has im- 

 proved his land by the application of wool-waste, which he 

 mixes with stable manure and loam. His main object is to 

 raise grass, his land being better adapted to it than grain. A 

 large portion of the land is low, and before it was brought into 

 its present state, yielded nothing but wild grasses and brakes. 



We next viewed the farm of Abel E. Bridge of Lexington. 

 Mr. Bridge works on his farm but two days in a week, on an 

 average, but in other ways earns nearly five hundred dollars a 

 year. The committee were well pleased with this farm, and 

 when we consider, that four years ago, it was a wet swamp, 

 covered with uncomely looking objects, and now the whole is 

 cleared and under good cultivation, with beautiful buildings 

 upon it, making a neat and happy home, we may say truly, 

 this young man has made the desert to blossom like the rose. 



The last farm exaniined by the committee, was that of Ed- 

 win Wheeler, in Concord. The details of his agricultural op- 

 erations are given in his statement, which will commend them- 

 selves to the attention of others similarly engaged. 



The committee also visited the several reclaimed meadows 

 and apple orchards entered for premiums. They award the 

 premiums as follows : 



Farms. 



Samuel M. Thomas, Wayland, 1st premium, - $25 00 



John Frye, Warden, City Poor Farm, Lowell, 2d prem., 20 00 

 Abel E. Bridge, Lexington, 3d premium, - - 15 00 

 Edwin Wheeler, Concord, 4th " - - - 12 00 



