FARMS. 95 



and we would build another barn, or even larger, if necessary, 

 to contain all carts, implements, &c., too often left unhoused, 

 or more or less exposed to the weather in sheds. 



We removed at once all division fences, and have only the 

 boundary line fenced. Some three hundred feet of this has 

 stone posts set five feet in the gravel ground. Another, four 

 hundred feet, has large stones on the surface of clayey soil, ten 

 feet apart, with one and a half inch iron posts sulphured into 

 drilled holes ; and these, together with the rails and slats, rise 

 and fall with the freezing and thawing clay. This novel and 

 useful fence, and that of the stone posts, give great satisfaction. 

 A live fence of the honey locust is also being tried. Other 

 fences are of the usual varieties. 



An old apple-orchard has been rejuvenated by draining, trim- 

 ming and grafting. Several trees grafted with the Hubbardston 

 Nonesuch bore so profusely as to destroy their vitality. "We 

 have forty varieties, many of them on paradise stocks, which 

 gives a smaller tree but larger fruit. Many pear-trees are also 

 in this orchard. 



The exclusive pear-orchard is well drained and trenched, with 

 horn-piths thrown in from one to three feet below the surface, 

 as a permanent phosphate manure. We have seventy-five vari- 

 eties of the fruit, comprising the kinds we think worthy of cul- 

 tivation. Bach year, however, we think more of standards and 

 less of dwarfs. The former, particularly of the Lawrence, do . 

 as well in grass ground as the apple-tree. 



Crops have not as yet been raised to sell, with the exception 

 of hay, which, on the prepared land, is fourfold compared with 

 former cuttings. Crops for domestic use are grown — corn and 

 carrots for horses, turnips and beets for cows. All are in abun- 

 dance and indispensable. 



Stock generally consists of a pair of horses and two cows. 

 The latter have been " soiled " during the summers for three 

 years, and the practice is quite satisfactory. They are con- 

 tented, thrifty, give more and better milk. 



" Other appendages " with us must be trees, hedges, ponds 

 and glass houses. Of the former there is a supply, and ever- 

 greens predominating, they have naturally given the name to 

 the place. So numerous are they, that they protect each other 

 and all about them. As screens, to secure and perfect fruits, 



