63 



a large number to the Society's catalogue of members, — an assu- 

 rance which he made good, by the presentation of thirty names of 

 new members, together witii the fees for their meml)crship. An- 

 other of these gentlemen had also warmly interested himself in a 

 similar undertaking, which he nobly comjileted, by adding eighteen 

 names to the catalogue of members, and passing to the treasury 

 the fees for their membership. Now, allowing all the a))atement 

 which needs be made, for the peculiarly favorable locality where 

 these efforts were put forth, we would urge it upon the consider- 

 ation of every member of the Society, how much may be 

 accomplished by equally zealous endeavors elsewhere. 



We take pleasure, also, in recording the fiict that much of the 

 same spirit was manifested in Canton, Dorchester, Dedham, 

 Franklin, jNIedway, and Medfield, the fruits of which were exhib- 

 ited in large and generous contributions to the Ladies' Fair at the 

 late exhibition of the Society. To the ladies of those towns, more 

 particularly, — seconding the appeal of the Committee, and other 

 friends of the Society, is all the success of this Fair to be ascribed. 

 And for their disinterested and efficient labors, our Avarmest ac- 

 knowledgments are returned. 



In Canton, Milton, Dorchester, Franklin and ISIedway, your 

 Committee were met, according to previous arrangements, by the 

 several trustees, and received every attention and aid. Farmers 

 and friends of agriculture were brought together for mutual in- 

 terchange of opinions ; places of special interest, in view of our 

 mission, were visited, and every facility Avas afforded for promoting 

 the objects and interests of the Society. It would be impossible, 

 Avithin the limits of this report, to describe, as Ave should desire, 

 the condition and management of all these farms. Some of them, 

 however, are already described in the statements given by their 

 owners, in answer to our inquiries. And to all of them Ave can 

 refer, Avith satisfaction, as presenting, in some one or more points, 

 an example Avorthy the imitation of every farmer. 



An instance of agricultural practice, hitherto unusual in this 

 vicinity, Avas observed in Franklin, Avhich, it is thought, may lead 

 to profitable results. We refer to the spreading of fine gravel, 

 three or four inches deep, as a top-dressing, on npIaiKh, by Avhich 

 astonishing effects were produced on crops of grass and corn. The 

 land on Avhich this experiment Avas shown to the Committee, had 

 a subsoil of clay, and the benefit of such a top-dressing Avas sup- 

 posed to consist, mainly, if not entirely, in Avarming the soil and 

 thus (pnckening the groAvth of plants. It Avas affirmed, hoAvever, 

 by others that this was only a subsidiary effect of the ]n-actice ; 

 that the laud Avas not particularly moist or cold, and that equally 

 remarkable effects were to be seen on otjier and drier lands. ]>ut 



