430 [Senate 



and three or four inches in diameter ; they are a fine tender table 

 beet. 



He has only one acre in orchard at present. He had ten acres of 

 the choicest grafted fruit, but nothing short of shooting would prevent 

 his fruit from being stolen, both from the trees and after it was pic ked; 

 consequently the trees were cut down and burned. He has some fine 

 plums ; the trees are very healthy and bearing abundantly. The only 

 care they get is such as is necessary to keep a neat and clean door- 

 yard, in which they stand, in order. He destroys the canker worm 

 with a swab dipped in tar, with which he rubs off as much of the 

 nests, while the worms are in them, as possible. His fences are in 

 the best order. They are, where most exposed, tight board fences, 

 about five feet high. The gates are furnished with a hook, and also 

 with a chain and padlock, and are always kept locked^ when they are 

 not drawing in or out, which saves all anxiety about their being left 

 open accidentally for the admission of pigs and cattle. His barn has been 

 built fifiy years ; it is covered at its sides and roof with cedar shingles, 

 which were covered with a coating of hot tar. The roof, although it 

 has been on fifty years, appears now like a new covering. Here can 

 be seen thorough tilling of the soil, and what land can be made to 

 produce, and also how much better it is not to undertake to cultivate 

 more than can be well attended to. Although Gen. Johnson rents 

 out part of his farm, he literally cultivates all the rest. I saw the 

 third crop growing this season upon a border, under a fence, which 

 on most places goes to waste. All his head lands, and the grounds 

 along his fences, have some kind of crops growing on them. His 

 maxim is to cultivate his crops at a proper season, keep them well 

 tilled, free from weeds, and use plenty of manure. He considers this 

 the most economical kind of farming and gardening. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



mw-Yorkj Oct. 25th, 1844. 



HENRY A. FIELD, 



Chairman of Committee. 



REPORT ON THOMAS BELL'S FARM. 



The Committee on Farms beg leave to report that they have visited 

 the farm of Thomas Bell, situated on Randell's Island. It consists 

 of one hundred and seventy-five acres — forty of which is salt meadow, 

 and the remainder improved land and cultivated in general field crops. 

 Mr. Bell rents this land from the corporation of this city, and as he 

 holds his lease only from year to year, he is deterred from extending 

 his operations and improvements according to his superior judgment. 

 He cultivates his farm for profit, and your committee were pleased 

 with the minute calculations he makes upon every thing which relates 

 to his productions, and with the business-like manner that all his ope- 

 rations are conducted. 



Meadows. — He has ridged his land where it was wet and cold, 

 and in this manner very much increased his crop of excellent grass, 



