WORCESTER SOCIETY. 171 



On Farms. 



By the conditions of the premiums offered for farms, it is re- 

 quired that " notice of intention to compete, be given, on or 

 before June 1, a correct account of labor, <fcc., to be given." 

 But one notice of such intention was given within Ihe time 

 prescribed, and that by William Howe, of Brookfield. The 

 committee visited his farm on the 5th of July, for the purpose 

 of seeing the several crops growing and standing on the ground. 

 They were so fortunate as to find Mr. Howe at home, engaged 

 in his usual avocations ; they passed through his orchard ; the 

 trees were in a vigorous condition, the land had been laid down, 

 and was in grass, of which there was a good burden ; as there 

 was also on the mowing land, over which they passed to the 

 barley field and pasture. The barley field (a large share of it) 

 was white with the blossom of the wild turnip, so much so, 

 that a member of the committee expressed the opinion, that it 

 was expedient then to cut the whole growth for fodder, to pre- 

 vent the turnip ripening its seed. It is recommended to Mr. 

 Howe, whenever he again ploughs this field, to cultivate it by 

 the growth of carrots, or some other hoed crop, from year to 

 year, until he has thoroughly cleaned the soil from this pest. 

 The pasture land appeared well. 



The committee then went upon the interval, having a stream 

 of water passing through the middle of it. In the channel, in 

 several places, stops had been put in to turn the water over the 

 land on each side. The effect of this kind of irrigation was 

 obviously great ; the grass was tall and thick, giving evidence 

 that the yield in hay must be large. The apparent growth 

 was herds grass mixed with foul meadow. The uncommon 

 growth of this grass prevented the committee from seeing the 

 manner in which the ditches for irrigation had been laid out. 

 One defect they could see ; the stops in the water course were 

 made permanent, without having in them gates, by which the 

 water could have been changed from place to place, and from 

 day to day, without delay or inconvenience, at pleasure. The 

 committee then proceeded into the upland, consisting of a deep. 



