viz. : — that of Walter H. Fisher, of Franklin. Some remarks 

 in regard to this farm, will be found in another part of this 

 Report. 



The Committee made a brief visit to the farm of E. W. Clap, 

 of Walpole. It consists of about 500 acres, a large proportion of 

 which is woodland. About 100 acres, comprising the homestead, 

 is of superior quality, naturally, and being well cultivated, is very 

 productive. A barn 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, with posts 24 

 feet high, was erected by Mr. C. in 1861, and, in connection with 

 its appurtenances, is one of the best in the count}^ — we might 

 say, in any part of the country. There is a cellar under the 

 whole of it, 9 1-2 feet deep, the bottom of which is overlaid with 

 hydraulic cement. The cellar opens to the south-east, on which 

 side, and attached to the whole length of the barn, is a row of 

 pens for swine. The floor of the pens is several feet above that 

 of the cellar. Sections of the pens can be readily raised by pul- 

 leys, to admit the passage of teams to the cellar. The cellar is 

 divided crosswise by plank partitions, extending from the divisions 

 between the pens to the rear wall. This gives to the inmates of 

 each pen a portion of cellar-room. 



The main object of this arrangement is to keep the hogs, for a 

 certain portion of the time, on the manure made by the stock, 

 which is kept in the barn above. By this means the hogs mix 

 with the manure the materials which are thrown in to absorb the 

 liquids, thus saving a large portion of the labor which would other- 

 wise be required in composting. It will be seen that from the 

 tightness of the bottom of the cellar, nothing can be lost from it. 

 The liquid and solid excrements of the cattle and horses, together 

 with those from the swine, are here combined, and the quantity 

 of strong manure thus made, is 250 cords a year, — a quantity 

 which must soon produce, a striking effect on the productions of 

 the farm. 



The live stock kept consists of four oxen, thirty cows, ten young 

 cattle, seven horses, thirty breeding sows and two boars. The 

 milk of the cows is sold at South Dedham. An average of 250 

 pigs a year, are sold before they reach the age of three months. 

 The pens are so constructed that they are warm in winter. They 

 have glass on one side, to admit the sun's rays, and young pigs 

 thrive well here, even in cold weather. The pigs bred are chiefly 

 a cross from Suffolk boars with strong, well-made sows. Mr. C. 

 is now using the noted boar " Sherman," imported by Mr. Stick- 

 ney, of Watertown. 



In 1861 Mr. Clap commenced the reclamation of a tract of 

 bog, comprising ten acres. It was then totally unproductive, and 

 as unsightly a spot as could well be imagined. Ditches have been 



