ii4 



Mr. John Robinson, of Salem, having been selected to 

 make some report to the Society by my guests, and he hav- 

 ing also been since then authorized to do so by our Secre- 

 tary, I submit this statement through him. 



Two years previous to my farm receiving the prize from 

 the " Committee on Farms" (In 1872, I think), the tract 

 of land over which my trees were planted was covered with 

 mossy corn hills, which may have been left by the Indiaus 

 for aught I can learn. I ploughed and planted it for two 

 years, and then, my married life having begun, I chose it fo r 

 my house-lot, and my tree planting began. 



The situation is on the north side (centre) of Suntaug 

 Lake, on the south-east border of which was located " Camp 

 Sehouler'' with four regiments of Infantry during the early 

 part of the Civil^War. 



This portion of my farm was the south-east part of an 

 open collection of fields which are about forty-four acres in 

 extent, bordered by pine and oak woods on the east, north 

 and west; and towards the Lake, at the south, are a fringe 

 of oaks and pines for little more than half the border. 



It will thus be seen that this treeless and houseless plain 

 needed much patience and perseverance to establish enough 

 trees to form a protection of pleasing appearance, that would 

 be both useful and enjoyable as a New England home, and 

 afford a break to prevalent winds. 



No other landscape architect has been employed than 

 the present owner, against whom all faults and credits must 

 be cast. 



The original plotting of the land has been but slightly 

 changed, although new roads have been laid out and more 

 or less planting has been done yearly, either to replace 

 those trees or shrubs which had been winter-killed or other- 

 wise died- or to enlarge the spaces planted. 



A portion of the land has curious depressions and mounds, 

 attributed to glacial action, which are left unconcealed by 

 trees. 



A hillside is also included, from which a pitch pine grove 



