100 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



F A 11 M S . 



ESSEX. 



Report of the Committee on Farms. 



For a number of years past, comparatively few entries for the 

 premiums on farms, have been made. The Trustees of the 

 society liave, from time to time, endeavored to encourage com- 

 petition by varying the premiums both in amount and the terms 

 on wliicli they were offered. So far these endeavors have failed 

 to effect their object. The fact still remains fixed, that there 

 is a great barrenness of entries in tliis department. The sul»ject 

 still merits the careful consideration of the Trustees, therefore, 

 whether the end which they have in view by offering these 

 premiums may not be attained in some way, different from the 

 modes hitherto adopted. 



Samuel Raymond, of North Andovcr, is sole competitor. His 

 farm was purchased in 1850. It was then in an exhausted and 

 dilapidated condition. He has improved it in all respects. The 

 walls have been in a good measure rebuilt, fruit trees large in 

 number and variety have been put out, a portion of the meadow 

 is in an advanced state of reclamation, and an immense quan- 

 tity of small, loose stones have been removed from the high 

 lands. Taste has also been exhibited in transplanting forest 

 trees around the house and in other arrangements which have 

 undoubtedly wrought a material change in the appearance of 

 the place. 



The farm contains about fifty-five acres, all of which except 

 the wood land is now in grass or under cultivation, so that it 

 lacks one important constituent necessary to a complete farm — 

 that is, a good pasture. Being destitute of a pasture, Mr. Ray- 

 mond has no dairy. We were told that his two or three cows 

 furnished sufficient milk and butter for his own family only. 

 They were fed in the barn until after haying and then tethered 

 in the mowing fields. Consequent upon the absence of a dairy 



