FARMS. 69 



F A K M S . 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The farm of Richard Webster, situated in Haverhill, west 

 parish, having been offered for premium, was visited by the 

 committee, on the 27th of August. Mr. Webster's statement 

 which is appended, presents most of the facts connected with 

 the purchase and the improvements made upon the farm. It 

 will be seen that this farm is a small one, about forty acres being 

 the whole amount included in tillage and pasture, and a consid- 

 erable portion of this is still unreclaimed. The condition of 

 the land prior to its passing into Mr. Webster's hands in 1859, 

 was not very inviting, being poor and rocky. 



What has Mr. Webster accomplished? His brief statement 

 affords a tolerably clear idea of what has been done. A con- 

 siderable area of his land is now under clean culture ; the rocks 

 are removed ; portions are under-drained ; the stone walls have 

 been to a large extent rebuilt ; orchards have been planted ; 

 pasture land cleared of bushes and stumps, and planted with 

 corn and other grains. He has also erected a substantial and 

 convenient barn during the past year, and the Committee found 

 it well filled with hay and grain. The barn is admirably 

 arranged with the view of affording comfort to stock, storing 

 roots, as well as hay and grain, and saving manure. Mr. W. 

 like all sensible farmers, makes a great point of economizing 

 and increasing manures. The receptacle in the barn cellar for 

 holding the excrement of his animals, is of brick, with cemented 

 bottom ; thus adapting it to retain the liquid as well as the 

 solid portions. No point in successful husbandry is more 

 important than this. The liquid excrement of an ox or cow, is 

 actually worth more than the solid, as a fertilizing agent, and 

 every ounce of it should be saved. A manure bin, like that 

 of Mr. W's, below the stalls of a dozen animals, will, from its 



