140 



<Sl)c iTarmci-'s inc» utt)hj fatgitor. 



Pass we now ov.-r to that rich county of Massachu- 

 setts, old Essex, w hose iiidustriiil classes on a less area 

 than one of her counties have made a greater business 

 in the lannuig and dressing of leather and the leather 

 maniificture than the value of the entire cotton pro- 

 duction of the S^tate of i^onth Carolina. Those who 

 ^vitness the unceasing industry of the people of that 

 region will not wonder at the thrift which is growuig 

 np° around them. While the large cotton ;md woolen 

 establishments of Waltham and Lowell have been 

 looked at as almost cxrlusively building up manufac- 

 tures, the leather and shoe business, the small shops 

 standing about all the lower towns of Massachusetts, 

 have accon.plished much more, and exceeded in the 

 amount of manufacture, the value of the former. This 

 business has eve.i reached over into New Hampshire, 

 and « ill spread here us the means aiul facilities of 

 communication are increased. One prosperous busi- 

 ness will not fail to extend and make more prosperous 

 other kinds of business. 



The rich towns in Massachusetts on both sides of 

 the Merrimack recjuire no delineation from our pen. 

 Essex county has long been in advance of most oilier 

 parts of New England in its improved agriculture. 

 The spirit there flags not at the present time. Some 

 of the finest farms in New England are to be found 

 along and upon the high hills of old Essex on both 

 sides of the Merrimack. 



It was to visit one of these farms of the better sort, 

 on the invitation of its muuificeut owner and proprie- 

 tor. Col. Benjamin Toore, that the editor of the Visitor 

 left home on this experimental journey. Leaving at 

 the latest hour for attending the notified trial of the 

 ploughs, from mistakuig the point of location the dis- 

 tance of full eight miles, we were cut off nearly two 

 hours in time from eleven till one o'clock m the day. 

 Going at once to the field of operations, we found the 

 company collected just ri.^^ing from a well supplied ta- 

 ble which the proprietor of the farm had prepared in 

 the open field. 



Some two hundred people were upon the ground; 

 and of these we were agreeably surprised to meet sev- 

 eral of our most intelligent agricultural editors and ac- 

 quaintance from a distance : there were Col. Skinner, 

 who established the American Farmer, which still lives 

 at Baltimore, more than a quarter of a century ago— 

 iheapt and excellent practical farmer, Mr. Buckminster, 

 of the Blass ichusotts I'loughman— Mr. Breck, of the 

 old New Engl.md Farmer. Besides these, we descried 

 among those who had come up to the interesting trial 

 of "speeding the plough," an elder political editorand 

 old practical printer, .Mr. .Mien, who established the 

 Newburjport Herald, some fifty years ago, a paper 

 which still lives — also our old acquaintance of 1812, 

 Dr. t^pollbrd, decidedly a better farmer than politician, 

 who writes for the Haverhill paper, and who reminded 

 us on the ground id" the blows which he used to deal 

 us when he resided within the limits of New Hamp- 

 ehire. On this ground we met that venerable and con- 

 stant friend of agricultural improvement, Mr. Derby of 

 Salem, whose beautiful farming and gardening grounds 

 present specimens and proof of the perfection in 

 whi h buckthorn hedges may be cultivated as a substi- 

 tute for the expensive wooden fences so necessary 

 where there is a deficiency of both wood and stone 

 of the belter lands of the country. Two sons of the 

 late merchant prince of Newburyport, William Bart- 

 lell, now both themselves aged, but both andiitious to 

 distinguish themselves as the friends of agricultural 

 improvenn 111, were also introduced to us. The elder 

 Mr. Uarllelt cultivates near Newburyport a spot of 

 around less than four acres. For the best acre of In- 

 iilb corn upon this ground, 91 bushils, he last year 

 ijlitaincd the County Society's first premium. I'pon 

 this ground, after furnishing all the family vegetables 

 and a variety of fruits, he pastures and raises hay for 

 a first rate milch cow, and reared and fattened from 

 his vegetables and corn 1600 pounds of pork the 

 hist season. His ni'ighbors, who cultivate their corn 

 ground more slightly, tell him that they do it at the 



cost of not more tlian four dollars the acre, while he 

 does it at an expense of fourteen dollars the acre; and 

 in the additional labor he makes the gain of full ten 

 dollars the acre. He stirs his ground with the subsoil 

 plough to the depth of eighteen and twenty inches; 

 and this he assures us contributes more to enlarge his 

 crop than all the manure he uses. Dr. Robinson, a 

 pupil of the late Dr. Kiltredge, who owns a hill farm 

 upon the Merrimack bank, more beautiful if possible 

 than Indian Hill itself, with Dr. Kittredge the younger, 

 who well fills in old Essex at Nomli Andover the place 

 of his respected father, were also present at this wel- 

 come gathering. The Uev. Dr. Perry of Bradford, 

 who has himself exhibited his good taste in agricultu- 

 ral and horticultural improvement, as well as high tal- 

 ent in the sacred desk, was also on this spot. 



But the men to take the deepest personal interest in 

 the show were the rival gentlemen who have made 

 plough-making a science, and who have, we think, 

 both or all three, succeeded in making the best ploughs 

 ever invented. It must be understood that by a late 

 decision of Justice Story of the Supreme Court of the 

 United States, the improvement of no man in any of 

 the coninion properties of the plough can be patented. 

 Mr. Prouty of Boston, is undoubtedly entitled to the 

 credit of inventing and making the first great improve- 

 ment of the American plough ; Mr. Ruggles of Wor- 

 cester has availed himself of the supposed patented 

 right with impunity ; Mr. Martin of Sutton, Mass., 

 has seized on all previous improvements, and run oft' 

 with the "Premium Eagle Plough." Each and all 

 of the three came up to Col. Poore's exhibition with 

 better ploughs than we ever betbre had seen exhibited. 

 It remains yet to be ascertained by us whether the 

 same plough may be made alike to excel both in the 

 plain field without a hard subsoil, and the rocky, stumpy 

 rough field with hard bottom, where the depth of 

 ploughing cannot be kept uniform. One thing in the 

 icnproved ploughs is certainly to be conmiended, the 

 better iron metal of which they are cast, and the more 

 strong and durable wood-work of the plough frames. 

 An improved English plough of the latest construction, 

 made at much greater expense, imported for the pur- 

 pose of imitating its better qualities, was tried in fur- 

 rows along side of the others. The work of this im- 

 proved plough discovered to us that the English do not 

 yet as well understand the use of this noble implement 

 as the Yankees. The best work in that country is 

 done by the spade, of which the laborers there well 

 understand the use in trenching and digging deep. — 

 'Twere better in America that we both ploughed and 

 dug deeper than we do in the earth. The subsoil 

 plough, after the common plough, was looked upon by 

 most of those present as a curiosity. In a field under- 

 drained like that of Col. Poore, there could be no 

 doubt of its great usefulness at a comparatively small 

 expense. The side-hill plough, longer introduced, is a 

 gre;'.t improvement, alw;iys turning the furrow in the 

 .same way, and useful even on level ground where there 

 is a wish to avoid ridges and valleys. The trial of 

 ploughs was continued with increased interest for two 

 hours in the aflernoon. 



After so long a preface for some account of Col. 

 Poor's Indian Hill Farm we at present refer to the 

 apostrophe of the editor of the Essex Transcript to be 

 found in this number, premising that hereafter, in 

 concluding an account of our five days' circuit, wc 

 may notice some other things which were to us curious 

 and entertaining in its history and present management. 



in the Slate; also for the application of a sum 

 from the treasury for the encoiiniireiiient of so- 

 cieties ; also for the protection of sheep from 

 ilogs and wolves; for the protection of fruit and 

 ornameiiml trees; for the collection of agricul- 

 tural stati.siics, and for the diffii.sion of iigriciil- 

 tural inforinntion. — Prairie Farmer, 



Aouicui-TUBAL Convention in Ohio. — A very 

 largn convention of tiirii)eri<, repre.senliiia more 

 than half llie po|uilaliun of Ohio, lately nt-seili- 

 hlcil 111 C^oliimhiis to (lin.-^e ways and meaii.s for 

 the inotnotion of the afiriciduiral inleresls. The 

 roiiveiilion was compo.sed of many of the first 

 and best men of the StHtu, of all political par- 

 ties ; and wo niiderstaud that their delilieralions 

 and decisions were attended with great liar- 

 niony. 



Uesoliition.s were passed reroniniending the 

 creation of a Slate Board of Agriculture, having 

 gciicrtd siipiTvision of all plana for it.'? promotion 



Merrimack Connty Agricnltural Society. 



The annual exhibition of this Society, has been no- 

 tified by the Secretary, Isaac K. Gage, Esq., to take 

 place at Fishersville, (South Boscawen,) on Wednes- 

 day and Thursday, Oct 8th and 9tli. 



On Wednesday, at nine o'clock, the several com- 

 mittees will meet and proceed lo the discharge of their 

 duties, first filling all vacancies. At half past two 

 o'clock P. M., the usual address will be delivered by 

 the President, to be succeeded by the reports of the 

 committees on Farms and crops, and by a dissertation 

 on manures from Levi Bartlett, Esq. of Warner. 



On Thursday, at nine o'clock A. M., the reports of 

 the several standing committees given below, will be 

 read. At eleven o'clock, the Ploughing Match will 

 take place. At two o'clock P. M., a dissertation on 

 crops will be delivered by Simeon B. Little of Bos- 

 cawen, to be succeeded by the choice of officers for 

 the ensuing year, and the transaction of other necessa- 

 ry bushiess. 



8TANDINU COJIMITTEES. 



On Furnii, Crops aiid Gardens. — Levi Bartlett, 

 Warner, Georg.-;W. Dow, Concord, Joseph L. Couch, 

 Boscawen, Jeremiah It: Wdkins, Pembroke, Abram 

 Brown, Hopkinton, Joseph Swett, .\ndover, Jason C. 

 Watkins. W'arner, .Mbert Ames, Canterbury, John 

 Greenough, Boscawen. 



On Ploiiu'hini; Mulrh. —i^imeon B. Little, Boscawen, 

 Jason C. \Vatkins, Warner, Henry Farnuiu, Concord, 

 Albert Ames.Canterburv, Hazen Kimball, H.ipkmton. 

 Abraham Brown, Nortlifield, James George, Warner. 



On If'urlcing Oaci.— Joseph Swett, Andover, Ben- 

 iamin W hippie, Dunbarton, Benj. C. Davis, Warner, 

 Thomas Elliott, Boscawen, John Taylor, ^ranklm, 

 Silas Call, Boscawen. _ _ 



On 2 and 3 year old Steers. — Isaac \ irgm, ton- 

 cord, Benjamin Walker, Boscawen, Andrew Taylor, 

 Canterbnrv. Phineas Colby, Warner, Chase Fowler, 

 Hopkinton', Labun M. Chadwick, Boscawen. 



On Vearlings. — T. D. Kobertson, Warner, A. S. 

 Brackett, Bradford, Geo. W. Stone, Boscawen, Laban 

 Blorrill, Canterbury, Benjamin Farnum, Concord. 



On Bulls. — John Searle, Franklin, James .\. Mor- 

 rill, W;irner, Jolm B. West, Boscawen, Joseph Whit- 

 ney, Canterbury, Stephen Moore, Loudon, Nalhan 1". 

 Ames, Boscawen. 



On Cows. — Jeremiah Kimball, Boscawen, Hosea 

 Fessenden, Concord, Geo. A. Pillsbury, Warner, 

 Amos CoEswell, Canterbury, Enoch Gerrish, Bos- 

 cawen. 



On Mnres and Co».'^.— Joseph C. Phompson, An- 

 dover, Webster B. Davis, Warner, Garland Calef, 

 Boscawen, Nath'l Rolfe, Concord, Nathan Kdhnrn, 



AndoNcr. . , , ,. , 



On .SVifi;).— Isaac Hill, Concord. John GreenougU, 

 Boscawen, Eridy Fairbanks, \\anier, James M. Har- 

 riman, Warner, David Morrill, Canterbury. 



On Swine. — Joseph Pillsbury. Boscawen, E. C. 

 Badger, \Varner, Geo. W. Brown, Concord, B. F. 

 Kinrhall, Boscawen, James Greenoiigh, Canterbury. 



On llutter. — Asa P. Cate, Northfield, J. .\. Gilmore, 

 Concord, Wm. M. Kimball, Boscuwi:n, Robert Lane, 

 Sutton, Leonard Eaton, Warner. 



On C/ii CSC. —.1. M. Chick, Warner, Enoch Little, 

 Boscawin, Caleb Merrill, Franklin, W. W. Estabrook, 

 Concord, Tinlothv Colby, Hopkinton. 



On A'cedle HoiA. — Josi: h Stevens, Concord, 

 Enoch Collin, Boscawen, Juna. E. Lang, Concord, 

 Worcester Webster, Boscawen, J. M. Hill, Concord. 



On C,::i;ding.—.\hia\ M. Caverly, Loudon, Samuel 

 Aiken,Warner, Thomas Little, Boscawen, Cyrus Bar- 

 ton, Hopkinton, Samuel Evans, Concord. 



On Blnnkels and Flannels.— James W. Perkins, 

 Warner, F. H. Boyden, Bo.scawcn, Rulus Merrill, 

 Concord, Seth Eastman, Concord, John Kilburn, Bos- 

 cawen. r> , -. 



On llnolenandSilk Hose— Ira Perly, tonconl, 

 C. H. Peaslce, Concord, Joseph L. Conch. Boscawen, 

 Luke Courser, Bo.scawen, .M>ram Brown, Hopkinton. 



On Silk Gooit.'!. — Joseph Barnard, Hopkinton, Jir- 

 cniiah Tilton, Nortliliold, Fisher .Ames, Boscawen, 

 Nath'l Uolfe, Concord, Stephen I'ingrey, Salisbury. 



On l.cnilicr. Boots and Shoes. — Joseph Robmson, 

 Concord, Edward P. Cogswell, Boscawen, Abraham 

 IJurbank, lioscnwen, George W. Dow, Concord, Na- 

 hum Blanchard, Canterbury. 



On Articles of Special Im/rovemcnt. — HL G. 

 Thomas, Concord, George W. Nesmith, Franklin, 

 James Pc\-crlv, Concord, LitUc BurbnnU, BoeCBwen. 



