FARMS. 3 



that are made to produce annually a larger net income than 

 others containing one hundred acres. 



In conformity with these views, I have ventured to offer my 

 humble farm for a premium, destitute as it is of all such pleas- 

 ing associations as "paternal acres," "ancestral oaks," or "ven- 

 erable mansions," handed down from former generations ; and 

 I present my claim only upon the ground that he is a benefac- 

 tor who makes two blades of grass to grow, where but one 

 grew before. I will endeavor briefly to convince you that this 

 much I have done. 



I purchased my farm in the spring of 1841; it then con- 

 tained about thirty acres, one-half of which was completely 

 covered with bushes. My first move was to commence an open 

 warfare upon these " cumberers of the ground." For a while, 

 they resisted manfully, and seemed to bid defiance to our 

 attacks ; but after a hard-fought battle, we found ourselves at 

 last in full possession of the field. This field is now the best 

 part of my farm, and is capable of producing two tons of Eng- 

 lish hay to the acre ; but at the time I commenced work upon 

 it, it would not have afforded subsistence for a solitary cow. 



The other half of the farm at the time of my purchase, was 

 a strong and rich, but cold soil, and for want of sufficient drain- 

 ing and manui'ing, it produced but scanty crops. It has been 

 partially drained and had a liberal supply of manure. It is 

 now in a good state of cultivation, and produces large crops, 

 but is yet susceptible of great improvement. 



I have made several additions to my first purchase, and the 

 farm now contains about sixty acres, all of which — with the 

 exception of sixteen acres of woodland — is in a high state of 

 fertility, and with a little additional draining and manuring, 

 will compare favorably with any similar number of acres in the 

 county. 



I have built a barn and cellar fifty-six by tliirty-eight feet, 

 with sheds, carriage-house, piggery, poultry yards, &c., attached, 

 which have cost about $1,700 ; I have entirely remodelled and 

 repaired my dwelling-house, at an expense of about $2,500 • I 

 have built a small greenhouse, with a cellar and well, for rais- 

 ing foreign varieties of grapes, which has cost about $160; I 

 have made two hundred rods of substantial stone wall, and 



