61 



REPORT ON OLD PASTURE LANDS. 



The Committee on improving old Pasture Lands report : That 

 two pastures were presented for the Society's premium, by Calvin 

 Richards and Benjamin N. bawin, respectively, of Dover. The 

 accompanying statements show what each of these gentlemen has 

 done towards their improvement. Mr. Sawin commenced his la- 

 bor a year or two sooner than Mr. Richards, and he has, there- 

 fore, been able to present a more detailed account of his outlay 

 upon, and his income from, the same. The Society are well ac- 

 quainted with Mr. Sawin's accurate method of stating facts, and 

 that his figures need no endorsing. The Committee were able to 

 judge what the labor was, that had brought Mr. Sawin's pasture 

 into its present advanced state, by comparing Avith it a piece of 

 land opposite, covered with bushes and trees, such as he has men- 

 tioned in his letter. A fine field of corn, promising for the season, 

 covered the field ; a neat stone wall, built of the stones collected 

 from the land, surrounded it in part, and here and there a solitary 

 shrub-oak root showed how much labor had been expended in the 

 removal of many of the same kin(^. Mr. Richards's first field 

 presented a formidable appearance, where it was not planted, of 

 rocks and rough furroAVS. Where he had planted, the corn ap- 

 peared stout and the land well subdued. Strong faith and strong 

 sinews are required to bring this piece into good condition. These 

 will be brought to bear upon it, no doubt with good eftect. Mr. 

 Richards's motive is an excellent one, to improve the appearance 

 of the field as well as to add to his pasturage. To each of the 

 above gentlemen the Society are under obligation for commencing 

 such a labor. Travellers from Liverpool to London speak of the 

 whole country appearing like a garden. We cannot expect such 

 a state of things in our back towns for centuries, perhaps ; but 

 each unsightly field improved has a charm for the eye, to say 

 nothing of the betterment of the cattle upon our thousand hills. 



To Mr. Sawin, whose improvement has been the farthest prose- 

 cuted, and who has given an exact statement of debt and credit, 

 the Committee award the first premium often dollars. 



To Mr. Richards the second premium of five dollars. 

 For the Committee, 



BEN J. G. KIMBALL, Chairman. 



Needham, Nov. 14, 18.31). 



B. N. SAWIN'S STATEMENT. 



The pasture Avhich I offer for your inspection and the Society's 

 premium, if in your opinion it should be deemed worthy, contains 



