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REPORT OF E. FRAXCIS HOLT. 



The committee on improved wet meadow lands, having 

 visited and examined the piece offered for premium by 

 Maurice Connor of West Newbury, submit the following. 

 We find in this field the result of courage, persistence and 

 patience, united with good sense and muscle. Four of 

 these qualities should and must be the possession of every 

 successful farmer ; and the latter if not possessed, is ordina- 

 rily attainable at not extreme expense. These facts maj* 

 suggest to the possessors of many an unsightly and use- 

 less piece of land in Essex Co. the possibility with the 

 means within their possession or reach, of bringing the 

 same into a condition that shall make it at once a pleasure 

 to the beholder and a source of profit to the owner thereof. 

 It is in the hope of fostering and encouraging such efforst 

 on the part of such owners, that your committee suggest 

 for Mr. Connor the premium of fifteen dollars. In so do- 

 inff we do not overlook the fact that the statement of Mr. 

 Connor is not as much itemized or detailed as regards ex- 

 penses and receipts as would be desirable ; but since the 

 premium is for tlic improvement in the Jand^ and your com- 

 mittee are, because of close examination and questioning, 

 satisfied that from the first ploughing it has returned at 

 least and probably more than an equivalent for all ex- 

 penditures; and is now in a clean, arable condition, ready 

 to give almost unlimited returns for liberable cultivation ; 

 they take pleasure in recommending as above. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



E. Francis Holt. 



The Chairman would fully indorse Mr. Holt's remarks, 

 and would further suggest, that we consider Mr. Con- 

 nor's estimates of the cost of ploughing and harrowing 

 rather low, but as it was done mostly with his own 

 team, and with the help of other members of the family, 

 the cost may not to him appear very great ; but those of 



