11 



grass earlier than formerly ; it is now generally admitted by 

 our most practical formers, that all kinds of grasses should 

 be cut when they are in flower, or very soon afterwards. We 

 have along our sea coast several thousand acres of land, 

 known as salt marshes, which might be made more valuable 

 by judicious ditching and dyking. The grasses on these 

 meadows are very apt to be neglected till late in the season, 

 one or two months after they have blossomed and gone to 

 seed ; then the hay is comparatively worthless. The most 

 valuable of these, the Bhick-grass (Juncus Gerardi), was iu 

 blossom this year, June 20th, and the Foxgrass {Spartlna 

 Juncea) July 20th. Bordering on the Parker River in New- 

 bury, are about two thousand acres of these marsh lands, 

 which by a dam near the mouth of the river, at the estimated 

 cost of thirty thousand dollars, might be rendered very valu- 

 able for growing any of the upland crops. 



Those who have travelled through this county for the past 

 few years, must have noticed the very poor condition of 

 many of the roads, especially in the vicinity of this city, and 

 in the interior. The roads in several of the towns in the 

 southeastern section of the countv are excellent, and those 

 who have the care of them deserve much praise. Would it 

 not be well for towns in choosing surveyors, to select men 

 who know the difference between ijravel suitable for roads, 

 and soil adapted to the compost heap ? 



On some of our farms the fences are in bad condition. 

 Many a man spends more time in driving the cattle from the 

 mowing lot and corn field in hay time, than he would in 

 making good fences at the proper season. If we w^ould keep 

 our cattle and sheep from l)eing unruly in summer, we must 

 have good fences to start with in the spring. 



The farmer should be temperate in everything ; in eating 

 and drinking, in sleeping and working ; not doing two days' 

 work in one, or overworking his tired body, because he sees 

 so much to do. It is to 1)e hoped, that the day will soon 

 come wdien the use of rum, or even cider, in the harvest field, 



