54 



trials, and they cannot but hope that many will be found to follow 

 such good examples. The Committee award : — 



To Walter H. Fisher, of Franklin, the first premium of $10. 



To Abner L. Smith, of Dover, the second premium of ,^5. 



For the Committee, 



BENJ. G. KIMBALL, Chairman. 

 Needham, Nov. 30, 1861. 



STATEMENT OF WALTER H. FISHER. 



The piece of pasture land that I offer for premium, contains 

 about fifteen acres. I will now give you a description of the pas- 

 ture as it was when I commenced operations. None of it had 

 been disturbed by the plow for at least an age, and part of it never. 

 Most of it was in a very rough condition. It was covered with 

 black moss, laurel and bushes, and was stony. The whole would 

 not pasture four head of cattle. It was supposed that a portion of 

 it never could be plowed. 



The character of the soil is somewhat varied. There are three 

 high bluffs or gravelly knohs which I did not think it advisable to 

 meddle with, containing perhaps one acre. In one corner of the 

 pasture there is about one acre of rough, rocky swale, a portion of 

 which I have plowed, drained and re-seeded. 



The soil generally is of a rich, strong loam, being, as I think, 

 on a very retentive subsoil. In June, 1860, I commenced by 

 plowing about six acres (with one yoke of strong, heavy cattle) 

 Avhich lay until August, when I gave it a good harrowing. In the 

 month of November I picked off all the loose stones, and cross 

 plowed, plowing it a little deeper than at the first time. Where 

 there were bushes and bogs I burned all that I could. In the 

 spring of 1861 I harrowed it with the Bucklin harrow, and then 

 plowed for planting. I then planted about five acres in corn, at 

 the distance of three and one-half feet each way, manuring with 

 well rotted stable manure, one shovelful to the hill. Before the 

 corn came up I applied a small handful of wood ashes to the hills. 

 I also planted about two acres with potatoes, a part of which was 

 manured in the hill with coarse stable manure, the rest with plaster 

 and ashes. The corn was hoed and cultivated twice ; the potatoes 

 once. In the fall of 1860 I sowed about one and a half acres in 

 rye, and seeded to grass. 



The balance was plowed up in June, 1861, and I am preparing 

 for a crop in the same manner for next year. 



The two acres of potatoes were dug in September, and the land 

 seeded to grass, which looks very promising for a crop at the pres- 



