74 



JosiAH Crosby's Statement. 



^ In calling your attention to my farm, I feel some reluctance 

 in consequence of the very prevalent idea among farmers, 

 that none but large and decidedly model farms should be 

 considered worthy of a premium. But notwithstanding this 

 opinion, experience and observation have taught me that 

 small farms declare the largest relative dividends, and in 

 corroboration of this statement, I could, if my limits would 

 permit, cite many instances of farms in this county, contain- 

 ing ten or twelve acres, that are made to produce annually 

 a larger net income than others containing one hundred acres. 



In conformity with these views, I have ventured to offer my 

 humble farm for a premium, destitute as it is of all such pleasing 

 associations as " paternal acres," ancestral oaks," or " venerable 

 mansions," handed down from former generations ; and I present 

 my claim only upon the ground that he is a benefactor who 

 makes two blades of grass to grow, where but one grew before. 

 I will endeavor briefly to convince you that this much I have 

 done. 



I purchased my farm in the spring of 1841 ; it then contained 

 about thirty acres, one half of which was completely covered 

 with bushes. My first move was to commence an open warfare 

 upon these " cumberers of the ground." For awhile they resisted 

 manfully, and seemed to bid defiance to our attacks ; but after a 

 hard-fought battle, we found ourselves at last in full possession 

 of the field. This field is now the best part of my farm, and is 

 capable of producing two tons of English hay to the acre ; but 

 at the time I commenced work upon it, it would not have 

 affurded subsistence for a solitary cow. 



The other half of the farm at the time of my purchase, was a 

 strong and rich, but cold soil, and for want of sufficient draining 

 and manuring, it produced but scanty crops. It has been par- 

 tially drained and had a liberal supply of manure. It is now in 

 a good state of cultivation and produces large crops, but is yet 

 susceptible of great improvement. 



