FARMS. 45 



F A H M S . 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



We have had but one entry for the premium this year — that 

 of S. A. Merrill, the occupant of the Derby Farm, in South 

 Salem. We think this is the first time, in the history of this 

 society, that a person who has leased a farm has offered it for a 

 premium. 



The committee visited the farm on the 11th day of July, at 

 which time the grass was cut and most of it in the barn. We 

 noticed the fields were very smoothly mown, and raked clean, 

 and the hay appeared to be of good quality. The general 

 appearance of the crops indicated that they were well planted 

 and cultivated thoroughly. The fences and buildings were in 

 about as good condition as we expect to find on a farm that has 

 been let for many years. Some of the committee think the 

 society ought not to give a premium to any farm having such 

 poor fences and buildings ; others think the tenant could not be 

 expected to expend much in repairing and keeping in order the 

 fences, and if his management in other respects was judicious, 

 he ought not to be deprived of the premium on account of 

 neglecting that which belonged to the owners to do. 



The farm was visited by part of the committee on the 19th 

 of September. At that time it looked as well as we expected to 

 find it. Although we have seen some farms where the weeds 

 were kept down better, yet we have seen many more that were 

 not kept so clean. Mr. Merrill has given his attention mostly 

 to raising vegetables for the market, and he has been very suc- 

 cessful in this. This he thinks more profitable than making 

 milk. Our impression is, that if his cows had received more of 

 his attention they would have done better, though we think 

 that milk can be produced cheaper farther from the city, where 

 land is not so valuable. The yield of milk appears small to us, 

 compared with the other products of the farm. According to 



