26 



The Committee desire to express their thanks to Messrs. E. P. 

 and J. E. Carpenter, Mr. Cary, and other citizens of Foxboro,' 

 for various kindnesses, and for facilities extended to them in 

 obtaining valuable information. 



The Committee have to report that one entry came before them 

 for the premium offered by the Society for the best cultivated 

 farm, viz., that of Dr. W. T. G. Morton, of West Needham. 

 The entry having been at first overlooked, the farm was not 

 visited until October, -when a visit was made by the Chairman, in 

 company with Mr. Newhall, Avho, besides being a member of the 

 Supervisory Committee, is also Chairman of the Committee on 

 Progressive Husbandry, under which head Dr. Morton had made 

 an entry for the premium offered for the " best conducted and 

 most improved farm during five consecutive years, commencing in 

 the year 1861." Dr. Morton has made various improvements on 

 his farm, particularly in the reclamation of swamp land, a tract of 

 which lying near the homestead, formerly gave an unsightly aspect 

 to the place. A small stream of water Avhich passed through it 

 has been made to work a hydraulic ram, Avhich suppUes Avater for 

 the barn, and affords a handsome jet for a flower-border in front 

 of the house. By digging out a portion of the muck, which was 

 advantageously used in compost, a small pond has been formed, 

 in which various species of fish are bred, and on the surface of 

 which ornamental water-fowl take their sports. On either side of 

 the stream and pond, the bog has been covered Avith sand and 

 gravel to such an extent, that it has become solid land, and pro- 

 duces good crops of all kinds usually cultivated in this section. 



Ten years ago. Dr. M. commenced the planting of willows on 

 the borders of some of the wet land, partly for shade, and partly 

 to support the banks of the stream and pond alluded to. For 

 two seasons past, several cords of wood have been cut from them. 

 In 1860 he set many willows, with the design of having them 

 become permanent live posts for fences. On moist land they have 

 grown well, but on the driest land they are not flourishing, and 

 probably Avill not succeed. But from what we have seen here and 

 elsewhere, we may venture the suggestion that the growth of 

 willows for producing wood for fuel may be an object worthy of 

 attention on some cold, damp soils, which are not and cannot 

 readily be made productive in ordinary crops. 



Dr. M. has made other improvements, the most important of 

 which have been noticed in reports of other Committees who have 

 been called to examine them. In reference to his claim for the 

 premium for the best cultivated farm, we are of opinion that, 

 though credit is due him for his enterprise in the operations to 

 which we have alluded, yet on the whole the farm does not now 



