FARMS. . 107 



F A n ]M s . 



The Committee on Farms for tlie present year, have had no 

 farms presented for their examination ; and consequently have had 

 nothing to do under that branch of their commission that contem- 

 plates the award of premiums at the expiration of three years. 



They have endeavored to awaken the attention of farmers to the 

 other branches of their duty that contemplates the voluntary view 

 of improvements made within the county, but have found very few 

 sympathizers in this. They have visited a few farms in West 

 Newbury, Marblehead, Danvers and Lynn, but not enough to 

 enable them to speak with confidence of observations made on such 

 visits. One of their number has looked at several farms in the 

 extreme eastern section of the county — a region that has hereto- 

 fore been little noticed in our Transactions,and herewith submits the 

 result of his observations. If the same thing could have been done 

 by each of the Committee in their respective neighborhoods, and 

 such observations could be continued for a term of three years, a 

 mass of information of much value, might be accumulated. 



The truth is, operations on farms needs to be looked at by dis- 

 criminating^ careful^ disinterested observers. Siatements of exper- 

 iments or products from the parties interested alone, experience 

 teaches, are not to be relied on with entire confidence. 



Whether the present offer of premiums on farms shall be contin- 

 ued, it remains for the Trustees to determine. • No harm will accrue 

 from a modification of it — if any improvement can be suggested. 

 In its present form, and as at present regarded, it is of little prac- 

 tical benefit. If one or more farms could be entered and examined 

 for three successive years, in each of the principal farming towns of 

 the county — say Newbury, Ipswich, Salem, Andover, and Haver- 

 hill, as they were in olden time, much benefit might accrue. But 

 to have this faithfully done, the incidental expenses of travel in- 

 curred by the viewing Committee should be met by the Society. 

 The tax of time spent is quite enough to demand of individuals. 



J. W. PROCTOR, Chairman. 



