FARMS. 101 



FARMS. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



Statement of Jabez Fisher. 



My farm, which was entered for the premium offered in 1868, 

 to be awarded during the present autumn, was purchased by me 

 in 1854. It contains thirty- four acres, nine of which are covered 

 with growing wood and buildings, ten are in fruit, and the re- 

 mainder in grass. At the time of purchase, some ten acres 

 were in pasture. My purpose originally was to make of it a fruit 

 farm. That plan has since been adhered to in the main, though 

 the amount of land thus devoted proves to be less than at first 

 intended. 



About ten acres were set with orchard in the first two or 

 three years, four and a half in apples, with peaches and plums 

 interspersed, four and a half in standard pears, with dwarfs 

 between, and one acre in cherries, with peaches. The remainder 

 of the tillage land was cultivated with the various farm crops 

 ordinarily grown. After two years' experience, while living at 

 the village, a mile and a half distant, as a practising physician, 

 I came to the conclusion that if I was to make agriculture other 

 than a plaything, I must give it my personal and constant 

 supervision. I then moved to the farm where I now live, and 

 have since that period allowed it to absorb nearly my entire 

 time and attention. 



As time passed on, I found that certain products paid a profit, 

 while certain other products either paid no profit or else cost 

 more than they were worth. I had no alternative but to devote 

 myself to the former and discard the latter, as my surplus capi- 

 tal was insufficient to permit me to pursue an unprofitable cul- 

 ture for mere gratification, even if I had been so disposed. 

 Under this rule I have retained fruit and grass, and have given 

 up the growing of corn, grain or root-crops to any extent. I 

 have learned that a field may be kept in grass profitably for 



