27 



departments are generally convenient in reference to their re- 

 spective purposes. It would be difficult to give such a description 

 of them as would be understood, without diagrams. 



Mr. F. takes much pains in regard to the saving of manure. 

 It is kept in the barn-cellar in winter, mixed with loam. The soil 

 of the farm is mostly of rather a light character. Sward-land is 

 ploughed in August or early in September, to the depth of about 

 six inches. It is not cross-ploughed the following spring, the use 

 of the Bucklin harrow bringing the inverted furrows into a good 

 condition for Indian corn or potatoes, and, at the same time, mix- 

 ing in with the soil such portion of the manure as is spread on the 

 surface. In the fall of the next year, after the crops are off, the 

 land is again ploughed, and in the succeeding spring is generally 

 seeded to grass with barley. 



The Committee feel that, while they are not called upon to 

 sanction every particular connected Avith Mr. Fisher's farm man- 

 agement, it has points of merit which amply justify them in award- 

 ing to him, as they do, the first premium offered by the Society 

 for the best cultivated farm. His statement is herewith appefided. 



SANFORD HOWARD, Chairman. 



STATEMENT OF WALTER H. FISHER. 



In giving you a description of my farm, I cannot, as is often the 

 case in the advertisements of farms, represent it as being '■ di- 

 vided into mowing, tillage, pasturing and woodland ;" but I can 

 truthfully say, that it has all been mowed by me, woodland ex- 

 cepted. It has never been my purpose to beautify one })art of 

 my fiu-m to the entire neglect of all the rest. But, it has been, 

 arid always will be my aim, to make it all produce something be- 

 sides bushes, weeds and briers. There should be no unsightly, 

 unproductive acres, and need be none where all are properly 

 cared for. I cannot afford to raise Aveeds in my cultivated fields, 

 or a border of bushes beside my fences. I think the farmer's 

 home should present some attractions to himself and to the 

 traveller. 



I will now give you an account of my labors and crops during 

 the past year. On account of the scarcity and high price of 

 labor, I did not deem it prudent to attempt more than I could 

 accomplish with the aid of my son, a lad fifteen years old ; conse- 

 quently my cultivation of crops this year has been limited. 



My farm at this time is occupied as follows : — Of Indian corn, 

 2 acres ; potatoes, 7| acres ; barley, 2 acres ; English mowing, 10 

 acres ; swamp and swale, 2J acres ; pasturing, 12 acres. The 



