FARMS. 77 



FAEMS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The farm of Mr. Samuel A. Merrill, of Daiivers, comprises, 

 fifteen acres of land, the soil of great variety and the surface 

 very uneven — quite unlike that usually chosen for the purpose 

 of market gardening. This inequality of surface gives better 

 facilities for the arrangement of hot-beds, so as to secure suita- 

 ble protection from the cold winds of early spring ; and, it must 

 be conceded, is better adapted to the production of some of the 

 market crops, especially those intended for the ea7'l7/ market. 

 It precludes the necessity of underdrainage, which is an abso- 

 lute necessity on some flat lands, where for the want thereof 

 many crops failed entirely the last spring. This farm, before 

 Mr. Merrill's occupation, was in the care of an administrator, 

 who testifies that for a series of years no manure was applied ; 

 but sufficient crops w^re taken off to reduce the land to the 

 lowest condition. 



Mr. Merrill, according to his statement which accompanies 

 this report, took the only course possible to restore it to fer- 

 tility, viz., the application of large quantities of manure of 

 various kinds, and the practice of thorough cultivation ; and 

 some of the Committee who from time to time have had oppor- 

 tunities to witness his operations will testify that these opera- 

 tions have been conducted with an energy and a determination 

 to " push things " in this line worthy of imitation by all our 

 farmers within our borders, or even in the famed county of 

 Middlesex. The crops raised have generally been good, and 

 the farm has shown an increased capacity from year to year. 



In the specialty of hot-bed culture it appears that Mr. M. has 

 been quite successful. As will be learned from his statement, 

 a very long range has been laid down, and the arrangement and 

 management seem to have been such as to secure satisfactory 

 results. 



