MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 131 



about 200 peach and apple trees, exclusive of the improve- 

 ments which I have made* on my land, fences, buildings and 

 implements. I estimate my annual income for the past three 

 years as follows : 



From fall feed, ..... $40 00 



" fruit, . . . . . 86 00 



" raising cattle, .... 200 00 



|326 GO 

 Deduct expenses of hired labor over what has 



been earned abroad by my team, . $50 00 



Deduct expenses of sundries, . . 33 75 



" " hired pasture, . . 50 00 



133 75 



Leaving a net profit, yearly, of , . . $192 25 



If this were all the profit of my labor and pains-taking, it 

 would probably be called a small remuneration ; but when the 

 increased value which my farm is acquiring, is taken into the 

 account, it will not be denied that I have abundant encourage- 

 ment to proceed. I am fully convinced, that for farmers to livo 

 within their income, they must make as few outlays as possible 

 for hired help, and exercise their own hands as much as they 

 are able ; they must endeavor to subsist, as far as they can, upon 

 their own productions, and, as the phrase is, live within them 

 selves. If I have had any success in farming, it has mainly 

 depended upon my own labor. 



My yearly experience has added constantly to my stock of 

 practical knowledge ; yet I have derived no inconsiderable as- 

 sistance from agricultural publications. I am an attentive 

 reader of the Massachusetts Ploughman, and I cannot but com- 

 mend that truly valuable paper to my brother farmers ; I have 

 also gained many valuable hints from the operations of your 

 Society, and I wish that these operations might be still farther 

 increased, 



Shirley, Sept. 6, 1850. 



