526 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



for the improvement of his farm. He gave a large 

 share of the time which could be spared from 

 other engagements, to this department of farming, 

 deriving from it much pecuniary advantage, as 

 well as healthful and amusing recreation. In 

 an essay upon irrigation, he says: "no school- 

 boy is more amused by paddling in the water, 

 than I am pleased with turning it about* from 

 place to place on my farm, knowing that I could 

 in no other manner be more profitably employed ; 

 gratified with witnessing from time to time the 

 superior growth of the grass, and anticipating the 

 pleasure of seeing a heavy swath when it shall be 

 cut." He had thirty acres of sandy intervale, 

 situated on the margin of the Blackstone river, 

 which for about thirty years he irrigated from that 

 stream, exhibiting one of the most systematic, 

 complete and valuable specimens of irrigation that 

 could be found in this country. Many advantages, 

 direct or indirect, were derived from the artificial 

 watering of this meadow : it caused a greatly in- 

 creased product of hay, while the land required 

 and received no manure at all from the yards ; 

 the extra quantity of hay supported an increased 

 stock of cattle, double the manure was in conse- 

 quence made, all the manure was spread upon the 

 upland fields — thus giving a progressive improve- 

 ment to the whole farm ; and it clothed the inter- 

 vale with a rich rank a/termath, which, in dry 

 seasons particularly, when other lands afforded 

 but little fall-feed, was a convenience of considera- 

 ble importance. In addition to the irrigation 

 from the river, he employed the temporary streams 

 formed upon the farm in the spring by the rains 

 and melting snow, conducting them to the hill- 

 sides and spreading their waters along down the 

 Slopes ; also, in like manner, the little brooks 

 formed by springs in the highlands. 



In the improvement of" the breeds of agricultu- 

 ral animals., he was among the foremost of his 

 cotemporaries — the excellent quality of his swine, 

 and of his milch cows for diary purposes, being 

 admitted by all who had ever seen them. Various 

 experiments were in progress upon the farm at 

 the time of his decease, which, had he lived to 

 carry them out, would probably have elicited im- 

 portant facts contributing to the settlement of 

 some mooted questions in agriculture. Among 

 the improvements he intended to enter upon this 

 present season, was the employment of a com, 

 tent chemist to make a full analysis of the cliff i 

 ent soils composing his farm, so that afterwards 

 modes of culture might be adopted which were 

 fitted to the capabilities or wants of each field. 



For many years, he took an active part in the 

 operations of the Worcester County Agricultural 

 Society ; and his reports from time to time, as 

 chairman of different committees, invariably dis- 

 played that practical judgment, research, and re- 

 flection, which characterized all his undertakings. 

 Whenever h§ put pen to paper, the fundamental 

 points bearing upon his subject were either made 

 clear to the reader, or, if further experiments were 

 needed before they could be stated with certainty, 

 useful suggestions were given as to the kind of ex- 

 periments most likely to diffuse the desired light, 

 and the best mode of conducting them. Two 

 years ago, he succeeded his worthy brother, Ex- 

 Gov. Levi Lincoln, in the office of President of the 

 Society. I r ' immediately showed his talent at 

 original rtant measures, by putting on 



foot some experiments in the name of the Society 

 calculated to throw light upon undetermined mat- 

 ters in Agriculture ; and he had mostly matured 

 other plans of operation for the Society, which in 

 their practical workings and results, would un- 

 questionably have proved useful, and command- 

 ed very general attention among agriculturists 

 throughout the country. 



In his private character, Col. Lincoln was a 

 most estimable man. Notwithstanding his great 

 energy, courage, and decision when circumstances 

 demanded their exercise, he could on other occa- 

 sions yield to the melting movements of the heart ; 

 and his sterner characteristics were blended with 

 that humanity, generosity, and mildness of temper, 

 and polite simplicity of manners, which made him 

 the agreeable companion, and the fast friend, 

 alike reliable, in storm or sunshine . As an in- 

 teresting illustration of his milder characteristics, 

 it may be stated that when a few years since cer- 

 tain benevolent citizens of Worcester, touched by 

 sympathy for the houseless helpless ones around 

 them, formed a Childrens' Friend Society, they 

 found in him a generous patron ; his liberality 

 provided an Orpban's Home, and his gratuitous 

 labors were ever afterwards given for the welfare 

 of its inmates, that they might be taught the ru- 

 diments of letters, their young minds instilled with 

 moral and religious truth, suitable employments 

 found for them when old enough to go out into the 

 world, 



"So that none, 

 However destitute, neeJ be left to droop 

 Uy timely culture unaustained, or run 

 Into a wild disorder." 



His whole appsarance and address was such as 

 produced an instantaneous conviction of his sinceri- 

 ty ; he preserved a strict and inviolable regard to 

 truth in all his words and actions; whatever he 

 affirmed was, as far as his knowledge went, as 

 certain as an identical proposition. Diligent in 

 the improvement of time ; and choosing duty be- 

 fore inclination ; he, in addition to his many more 

 public services, filled up a long life with those nu- 

 merous little acts of goodness which have left 

 blessed memories behind them, and which are 

 the peculiar adornments of private life. Surely, 

 in the death of Col. John W. Lincoln, a great 

 deal of worth has departed ; 



"The elements 

 So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, 



And say to all the world — This was a man .'" 



Courteous. — Our thanks are due the Officers of 

 the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society, and 

 of the Bristol County Society of this State, for po- 

 lite invitations to attend their Exhibitions, accom- 

 panied by free passage and dinner tickets. We 

 certainly should have been with them had we pos- 

 sessed the power of ubiquity. 



We have also received invitations to visit sev- 

 eral other societies, both in and out of the State, 

 which we should have been most happy to attend 

 had it been in our power. We shall notice their 

 exhibitions as we have opportunity. . 



B^- If State, County and Town Societies will 

 send us lists of their officers, we shall be happy to 

 publish them. 



