103 



What has Mr. "Webster accomplished ? His brief statement 

 affords a tolerably clear idea of what has been done. A con- 

 siderable area of his land is now under clean culture ; the rocks 

 are removed ; portions are under-drained ; the stone walls have 

 been to a large extent rebuilt ; orchards have been planted ; 

 pasture land cleared of bushes and stumps, and planted with 

 corn and other grains. He has also erected a substantial and 

 convenient barn during the past year, and the committee found 

 it well filled with hay and grain. The barn is admirably ar- 

 ranged with the view of affording comfort to stock, storing 

 roots, as well as hay and grain, and saving manure. Mr. W. 

 like all sensible farmers, makes a great point of economising 

 and increasing manures. The receptacle in the barn cellar for 

 holding the excrement of his animals, is of brick, with cement- 

 ed bottom ; thus adapting it to retain the liquid as well as the 

 solid portions. No point in successful husbandry is more im- 

 portant than this. The liquid excrement of an ox or cow, is 

 actually worth more than the solid, as a fertilizing agent, and 

 every ounce of it should be saved. A manure bin, like that 

 of Mr. W's, below the stalls of a dozen animals, will from its 

 liquid condition, require the daily admixing of large quantities 

 of chaff, muck, soil or peat, to act as absorbents ; and the 

 amount of active plant aliment thus secured, is surprising to 

 those who treat their manures in the ordinary wasteful manner. 



The committee in the examination of Mr. Webster's farm, 

 were highly pleased with the results of his labors. It was ev- 

 ident, however, that the work of renovation was but partially 

 completed. The element of time must enter into all under- 

 takings for the improvement of lands, and a few years more 

 are required to place the farm in a condition to meet the So- 

 ciety's requirements as a premium farm. There is much to be 

 done in connection with lands immediately around the farm 

 buildings. In the march of improvement, the fences, gates, 

 drive-ways, etc., have not been reached. These will doubtless 

 soon receive attention at the hands of the industrious and per- 

 severing owner, and the committee cherish expectations that 



