134 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FARMS RE- 

 LATING TO THE FARM OF THE MESSRS. 

 BUTTERS BROTHERS, IN METHUEN. 



There were two farms entered for premium this year. 

 That of Butters Brothers of Methueii and the farm of the 

 Danvers Lunatic Hospital. 



The farm of Butters Brothers is beautifully situated 

 in the village of Methuen, containing sixteen acres of 

 undulating surface of excellent soil. 



With a small exception for kitchen garden, the farm is 

 kept in grass, and with the manure from sixteen cows and 

 three horses applied as a top-dressing, heavy crops are 

 annually produced. This manure is dropped directly in- 

 to the barn cellar. Suflicient coarse sand from a knoll 

 near by is used to absorb all of the urine so that the 

 manure is of full strength and excellent quality. 



The hay crop this year was about thirty tons with six 

 tons of rowen which is to be fed to the stock on the 

 farm. 



It will be perceived that this, with the additional grain 

 fed to keep up a good supply of milk, is ample to keep 

 the farm in a good state of fertility. 



There is no pasturage, hence the cows are fed during 

 summer with some green grass, and an acre of land was 

 ploughed up after haying and barle}^ sown, yielding a 

 good crop. This was fed green, cut from day to day as 

 needed. 



No further attempt was made to grow rye, oats or 

 cornfodder to keep up a succession of green fodder. 



The buildings are in good condition, and consist of a 

 double one story cottage which accommodates the two 

 families, an excellent barn of sufficient size to hold the 

 hay crop, and with convenient stable room for the stock. 



There is a cellar under the whole barn open at the 

 south, that afiords good shed room for the farm utensils, 



