258 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



FRB. id. 184 



any value. I first ditched, but still it was miry ; I 'to make his statement, or give the information re- bought, but must be made, by a farmer in tho i 

 then laid a railway wiih plunk, and wheeled on the <)uircd, that prevents many of the best apricultu- | ,ior. Mr Adams's crops the last year, as b^ 



sand by hand, which made slow work, but covered 

 3-8 of an acre in this way. In 1840, put on 



IfickforJ, R. I., frb. 7, 1842. 



MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMO- 

 TING AGRICUI-TURE. 

 Rf.port on Farms. 



'I'he Commiltee of the Massachusetts Society ; evidence of respectable husbandry, your committee 

 for Promoting Agriculture, consisting of Messrs. j think there is only one of the number that they can 

 Welles, i'reacotl, Phinney, Codnian and Quincy, I recommend as a pullern of good farming, to bo fol- 

 appointod to examine and report on the several [ lowed by others, or as entitled to either of the pre- 

 claims for premiums on the best cultivated farms, 1 miums offered by the Trustees. This is a farm of 

 respectfully Report — ninetyfivo acres besides woodland, proposed by 



Thut Ihcy have attended to the subject, and al- I Abel F. Adams, of Fitcliburg, in the county of 

 though a respectable number of applic:itions have I Worcester. It is his judicious, c.ireful and me- 

 been presented, they regret to find that tlio liberal ! thodical manner of conducting and cultivating this 

 premiums offered by the Society for the best culli- 1 farm, rather than the crops produced, that entitles 

 valcd farms, have failed to attract the attention of i it to consideration ; for the crops do not appear lo 

 our best agriculturists generally to the subject, to be large ; but there are some particulars in his 

 the degree that was hoped and expected. It was practice which it seems to the committee would ad- 

 the intention of the Trustees to indemnify the far- I niit of itnproveiiient, particularly in the inanagc- 

 mer by their premiums, for his trcjuble in keeping '; menl of his apple trees. To this important branch 

 a general account of the management of his farm, | of rural economy, the culture of fruit trees, the 

 and of his crops, and in making his statement and committee regret to find that so little skill has been 

 application to this board ; and they flattered them- [e.xhibited, and so little attention bestowed by Mr 



selves that their highest premiums would bo prized | Adams. It appears by his statement, that he plows i you consider the best method ^f improving thl 

 as marks of distinction, and testimonials of e.xcel- his green sward in August or September, and in | That portion of the soil which rests 

 lence in the most honorable profession in our coun- i the spring spreads his long manure and cross plows j pan and is moist, is usually situated on the al 

 try, aa much as for their pecuniafy value, anil that j it in, and puts his compost in the hill. Your com- est part of the side hill, i prefer lo keep for 



*" 



Hsi* 



rists from claiming these premiums. This trouble, observed, certainly were not large, and EonH jijoi 

 your committee believe, is greaily overrated. They them were quite small. This he ascribes tft fisi 

 good coat of horse manure and seeded it well think it would be found on trial that a. few memo- severe drought in that part of the country, and : 

 with herds grass, clover and red-top. It was too i randa on a blank book, or a sheet of paper, would known that in many places it almost entirely' 

 moist foV the clover but the other seeds took well, I be sufficient. All that would be necessary to sit i off some species of crops. The committee C8! 

 and yielded at the rale of more than three tons lo | down, or nearly all, would be ihe quantity of grain j conclude their remarks without noticing with m 

 the acre last year. This beginning resulting so and grass seed sown, of maiiiire used, the quaiiti- satisfaction, the accurate schedule of the van 

 favorably, encouraged luu to go on with the filling, ' ties of different crops, the weights of his beef and 

 which has been done this winter at less than half pork, butter, cheese and wool, and perhaps u very 

 the former expense. I opened a bank on the south [ few other things ;— the rest, a great part of the 

 side of a hill that had the sun nil day ; then as ' information required, would be within the farmer's 

 90on as Ihe surface of the bog froze sufficient to [ own memory and knowledge. Your commiltee 

 bear a team. 1 began to cait j have been interrupt- think it very desirable that there should be a cor- 

 ed several times 'by thaws, but have tilled more : rect understanding among the respectable agricul- 

 than half an acre this winter. This bog in its ori- j turists on this subject. 



ginal state was of no value, and now the part that] Your committee further report that they have 

 was mowed last year is estimated at SJOO an acre, received claims for premiums on five farms situate 

 Yours respectfully C. { in different counties, all of wliirh they have caused 



to be inspected by an agent employed for the pur- 

 pose ; and have also received from tho several 

 claimants particular statements or answers to the 

 interrogatories proposed by the Trustees. All 

 these they have examined with great care, and 

 fully considered, and although all of them exhibit 



productions of his farm, which he exhibited, an i 

 spection of which will show that it is no diffiii 

 thing to keep and prepare one. 



Upon the whole, your committee recommend 

 a premium of One Hundied Dollars be awardt 

 the Trustees to Mr Adams, f.ir his farm, as thej 

 cultivated farm offered for their premium, 

 would have given the committee great pleasunl 

 have recommended a higher premium, as wel [ 

 premiums to the other respectable applicant/f 

 the principles upon which these premiums were if 

 tended to be bestowed, and their duty to the puU 

 would have permitted. 



JOHN WELLES, Chairmami 



Mr Adams's Stalemenl. 



Tho Commitlee, by their agent, Chester A4 

 examined the farm of Abel F. .\dams, of Fitchl 

 and obtained the following answers to their ij 

 ries : 



(iuesl. ]. Of how much land does your faro 

 sist, exclusive of woodland ." 



.Ins. Ninotyfive acre.«, and thirty acres of i 

 land, of a very thrifty growth, adjoining the cl^ 

 land. 



2. What is the nature of your soil ; does it J 

 sisl of sand, gravel, clay, loam or peat ? 



The farm is on a hill, and consists of a gr 

 loain, a yellow loam, and in moist places a 1 

 loam, re-;ting, to appearance, on a clayey gutj 

 from which latter soil numerous and nevcr-fafl 

 springs issue. 



3. It ol'a part or all of tho above kinds, what 



u successful, benevolent competitor would feel a 

 satisfaction in seeing his lees skilfuU neighbor 

 guided and assisted by his iiisl.-uct.itn and example 



mittee have long thought it better husbandry to j ing. When I break up any land, I plow the 

 plow such ground deep in the spring, and not turn sward with a side-hill plow in the month of Ai 

 the sod again ; but to plow it with a liglil plow or or September; let it then rest until the folio 

 Although tho experiment has hitliOrto not been bo ■ harrow it heavily and thoroughly with the furrow t spring, when I spread on my green manui 

 successful as could have been wished, the commit- | or diagonally. The nutriment which the decaying j immediately turn it in by cross plowing: ihen 

 tee still entertain tho belief that there is no other | vegetable matter in the sod would furnish to the j row and furrow for planting in hills with corn 

 way ill which the funds of the Society can bo em- i corn, is partially lost by its being exposed to the i potatoes. Apply compost in the hills for 

 ployed so beneficially to the agricultural interest, [ air by cross plowing ; but they are aware that ! and green manure for potatoes. The yeai full 

 if that interest can be induced to co-operate with , there are respectable farmers who still entertain a 

 them. They consider the utility of this measure ! ditferent opinion, and it nioy safely bo left to fur- 

 to consist, not only in exciting the best farmers to i ther experience to decide. The quantity of ma- 

 iiiore careful and belter farming, and to making | nure used by Mr Adams — six loads of long and 

 greater improvements, but also III obtaining models .twelve loads of compost — if they were common 

 in husbandry for the imitation and guidance of those | loads, seems rather sparing ; — the next ten would 

 less skilled. The slateineiits made to tho Trustees [ liave given him his profit. Ho appears to have 

 are laid before the public, not aa theories, but as laid down his land to grass in the spring, your coin- 

 successful results, by which the less skilfiill farmer ! mittee think, in a husbandliko manner, and they 

 may learn how lands similar to his own, and under [ wore pleased to observe that he was not so sparing 

 tho same climate, have been cultivated, and his , of his grass seed ns many ore wont lo be: ton or 

 may be cultivated BO as to yield large crops, with i twelve pounds of clover, a peck and an half of 

 small expense— in other words, profits. It is this herds grass, and three pecks of red top to an acre, 

 use of the .statement that renders it important that ! are none too much. They noticed also with plei- 

 it should be somewhat particular, and your commit- | sure, his attention to collecting materials nnd mak- 

 ice apprehend that it is the supposed trouble of [ ing compost. Manure is an essential, indispensa- 

 keeping such an account as will enable a person i ble ingredient in good husbandry, and cannot he 



ng I lay down the ground with oats or barley, 

 sow herds gross and clover seed when the gi 

 sown. Harrow in the grass seed and roll in{ 

 clover. I always roll all land laid down, to 

 the surface suioolh, and it protects the roots 

 grass from exposure by a droiiglit. I soinel 

 sow winter rye in the autumn after breaking 

 the green sward. I always have a good crop, m 

 never keep up my land but one year. Early plot 

 ing I find by far the most beneficial. 



4. How many acres do you till, and how mud I 

 inanuie ? &,e. 



Eight nc»as are annually planted with corn in 

 potatoes, and sowed with oats. Lay down tu 

 acres lo grass yearly, spreading and plowing inili 

 tho tunc twelve loads of compost and six loadtfli 

 green manure, mixed, to the acre. 



