40 



been cffcctcil in the recovery and cultivation of boi];s and meadows, 

 ■which often prove the most productive and pi-ofitable j)arts of the 

 farm. jNIore than ordinary attention is paid to the pUmting and 

 care of orchards, as the farmers find a ready and remunerating 

 sale of their products. Our notice has been called to several in- 

 stances of eminent success in this department. It seems difficult, 

 if not impossible, to overstock the market with good fruit. Fruit 

 trees yield cheap and abundant increase of the common food for 

 cattle and swine. Sweet apples, in particular, are nutritious and 

 wholesome. Milch cows are benefited by them ; and wo have seen 

 beef of the greatest excellence, which had been fattened entirely 

 upon them. Farms well stocked with fruit trees are always more 

 saleable, and at much higher rates, than others. Indeed, instances 

 are not wanting of farms in this County, which have been enhanced 

 in value from ten to thirty per cent, by the addition, within a few 

 years, of a well-cultivated and thrifty orchard of grafted fruit. A 

 remarkable example is furnished on the farm of Mr. Grant, in 

 Wrentham, which we mention because that whole farm is a mem- 

 orable instance of what may be accomplished by industry and 

 economy. Ten years ago it was exhausted and scarcely worth 

 cultivating. Mr. Grant has brought it into a highly flourishing 

 condition ; and every stranger notices the orchard as one of the 

 most striking improvements. The improvement of pastures is 

 going on extensively. A prejudice formerly existed against 

 ploughing up old pastures, however mossy and miserable. But 

 the impulse given to the manufacture of butter by continued high 

 prices, has induced an extensive and favorable change. Old pas- 

 tures are ploughed, manured, cultivated and laid down, furnishing 

 abundant feed where once were only moss and weeds. Farmers 

 are not so easily satisfied as formerly, with the amount taken from 

 the land. They have become better acquainted with the capabili- 

 ties of the soil and with improved methods of working it, — and, 

 instead of thirty, they look for sixty bushels of corn, at least, from 

 the acre, and other things in proportion. Of corn this is especially 

 true. Besides those fields that were entered for premiums, we 

 have seen many that promised remarkably large yields. Of these, 

 we will specify (on account of its size and excellence) that of T. 

 Motley, Jr. Esq., of West Roxbury. INIr. Motley had ten acres 

 in corn, which, it was thought, late in September, would yield at 



