148 Visit to the Farm of the Hon. Daniel Webster, Marshfield. Vol. X. 



Visit to the Farm of Hon. Daniel Web- 

 ster, Marshfield. 



We have been gratified by a visit to the 

 farm of this distinguished statesman, and 

 had the pleasure of holding converse with 

 him as a farmer in his retirement, and who, 

 by his urbane and friendly manner makes 

 one almost forget that he is in the presence 

 of one of the greatest intellects of the age. 

 As a public man, he is well known, but not 

 as a citizen and "the Farmer of Marshfield" 

 — at home, on his farm, or among his neigh- 

 bours. Here the mind is unbent — the stir- 

 ring scenes of political life are apparently 

 thrown aside and forgotten, and the farmer 

 may approach him on equal ground, and 

 however experienced he m.ay be in the one 

 pursuit of his life, he will find Mr. Webster 

 at home on the subject of agriculture, with 

 a disposition as ready to impart, as he is to 

 receive information, on a business which 

 appears to be more his pleasure than his 

 profit. But if his farming does not result 

 in pecuniary profit, he has the satisfaction 

 which, in a mind like his, is prized far 

 higher than pecuniary gain — of counte 

 nancing and encouraging by his example, 

 the great agricultural interests of the na- 

 tion, as well as the influence he exerts on 

 all suitable occasions to promote them. 



His farm is extensive, and that we might 

 have the best opportunity to see every part 

 of it, his foreman with a carriage, was at 

 our service, to take us over it, and explain 

 the various operations and experiments that 

 are in progress. Mr. Webster also devoted 

 a portion of the time we remained on the 

 farm, in pointing out to us the improvements 

 he had already made, as well as those he 

 had in contemplation, and related many in- 

 teresting incidents in the history of the 

 family of the original proprietors of his 

 farm, and of events which transpired in the 

 early history of this ancient town. 



Mr. Webster's farm contains Khoni fifteen 

 hundred acres. This large area embraces 

 a great variety of soil, about 300 acres of it 

 salt marsh, the remainder very diverse: some 

 portions of it may be considered of first qual- 

 ity, other sections medium, and some of it 

 rather inferior ; but none so poor that good 

 crops cannot be produced with good manur- 

 ing. The situation is a fine one for a stock 

 farm — and if good prices for good beef and 

 rnutton could be obtained, it might be a pro- 

 fitable farm for that purpose. What adds 

 much to the value of the place is, the facil- 

 ity with which sea manure can be obtained. 

 It is said that there are seven miles of beach, 

 reckoning all the indentures and various out- 

 lines of the shore which skirts the farm. 



Here large quantities of kelp are annually 

 obtained, and in some seasons white fish to 

 any extent are caught. With these natural 

 resources so near at hand, the farm is ra- 

 pidly increasing in value and productiveness. 

 Wherever these fertilizing substances have 

 been applied their beneficial efiect is obvious. 

 A large portion of the farm is devoted to 

 pasturage, which feeds not only Mr. Web- 

 ter's large stock of cattle, but many others 

 of his neighbours, which are pastured by the 

 week or by the season. 



The mansion house of Mr. Webster makes 

 quite an imposingappearanceasit isseenfrom 

 the road, having recently been fitted up and 

 large additions made to the old part, which 

 was originally a square house, two and a half 

 stories high, with a wing extending back: a 

 wing containing a suit of rooms, including 

 a spacious library, has been added, making 

 an extensive front, with a piazza the whole 

 length, extending round the ends of the build- 

 ing and part of the rear. The old and new 

 parts of the building harmonize very well. 

 Comfort, convenience and neatness are more 

 conspicuous in the arrangement than any 

 effort at display. The mansion is situated 

 thirty or forty rods from the public road, and 

 is approached by a broad drive way, bordered 

 by a hedge and belt of trees and shrubs. In 

 front of the house is a fine lawn of five or 

 six acres, dotted with trees in groups and 

 single, and ornamented near the dwelling 

 with fanciful beds of flowers, cut out in the 

 smooth sward. But the most striking object 

 which meets the eye at first siglit, is a ma- 

 jestic elm tree, near the east corner of the 

 house, which forms a complete bower. It 

 stands on an oval grass plot, which makes a 

 fine carpet for the bower. At a distance of 

 eight or ten feet from the ground the branch- 

 es extend in every direction horizontally, 

 gently curving over till they rest upon the 

 green sward, excepting on the side next to 

 the house, where it has been necessary to 

 cut out some of the lower limbs, that car- 

 riages may pass to the eastern door. The 

 branches on this side nearly touch the house, 

 and form a complete canopy to this entrance. 

 The longest diameter of this tree bower is 

 94 feet — perhaps 70 the other way. Seats 

 are arranged around the tree near the trunk, 

 where is a most delightful retreat, especially 

 in such a day as was that when we enjoyed 

 its shade, the thermometer indicating the 

 heat as near 90 degrees. The tree is said 

 to have been planted eighty years ago. 



The section of the farm on which the 

 liouse stands, contains about 40 acres, and is 

 bounded on three sides by a wide belt of 

 young trees, through which there is a wind- 

 ing walk. In this area are included the 



