MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 43 



Those heavy walls, which have been built since, must answer 

 that question in part, and these, pointing to the very large ones 

 still in the ground, must likewise speak. My means were 

 small when I began here. I have built these walls, this house 

 and barn, set out these trees, brought up and educated 

 these children, yet I have had to work hard, and so has my 

 wife, but we have always contrived to live within our income, 

 and therefore I am now clear from debt. Now comes the ques- 

 tion of means again. The occupant of Eden was rich when he 

 began ; he is so now. Question. Who shall have the premi- 

 um ? Answer. He of the great rocks, for he has had but one 

 half his land to work upon, the other half being still covered 

 with them. It is true, these are extreme cases, yet they are 

 both found in Middlesex, which is full of variety. A portion 

 of this committee have travelled much in the middle and west- 

 ern States of this Union, yet in no State have they found finer 

 farms, or coarser ones, than in this county. 



The committee would say one word more concerning reclaim- 

 ed bog or swamp land. The zeal manifested by many who are 

 now engaged in this most laudable enterprise, is worthy of all 

 praise. In one instance, we were called to view a lot of re- 

 claimed bog of about four acres, which was situated in a mead- 

 ow more than a mile in length, a great portion of which is now 

 in progress for English grass, and bids fair in eight years to pro- 

 duce a thousand tons of first rate hay, where, six years ago, 

 nothing but a light crop of poor meadow hay, and a heavy crop 

 of worthless bushes could be obtained. This large meadow 

 was principally in one town. If other towns in the county do 

 as well, Middlesex, as regards farming, is on the safe side. 



The committee with great unanimity award the premiums as 

 follows, viz. : — 



To Ebenezer Richardson, of Pepperell, the Society's first pre- 

 mium of $25 00, for having made the greatest improvements 

 upon his farm within the last ten years. 



To Ephraim P. Spaulding, of Chelmsford, the second pre- 

 mium of $20 00. 



To Aaron H. Felton, of Marlborough, the third premium of 

 $15 00. 



