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KEPOKT OF THE VISITING COMMITTEE. 



The Committee appointed to visit as many of the towns in the 

 county as practicable, and report their observations for the ben- 

 efit of the Society, submit the following report : — 



In almost every town in the county are a few farmers, who are 

 men of wealth and taste. Their large farms are well tilled, well 

 managed, and supphed with the finest stock. They make valua- 

 ble experiments in agricultural operations, introducing new meth- 

 ods, new implements, new seeds, new manures, new breeds of 

 cattle. If their experiments fail, they easily sustain the loss ; if 

 they succeed, the community shares in the benefit. These men 

 give a higher character to the business, and a large portion of the 

 improvements in farming, within the last few years, is due to their 

 enterprise and public spirit. One of these farms, that has never 

 been mentioned in the Society's transactions, and is well worthy 

 of honorable notice, is that of Mr. H. H. Hunnewell, in West 

 Needham. It includes two hundred acres-, and is beautifully situ- 

 ated upon both sides of Wabun Lake, in one of the most delight- 

 ful portions of the county. A vast amount of money has been 

 expended, with consummate taste and skill, upon the ornamental 

 part of the estate. The walls and hedges are substantial and 

 handsome ; many varieties of native and foreign trees and shrubs 

 have been planted ; hot and cold houses contain grapes and flow- 

 ers ; the buildings are models of neatness and convenience ; stock 

 of the best breed is kept ; and ditches and meadows supply to the 

 barn-yard great quantities of mud ; artificial manures are freely 

 used ; the mowing machine has been employed on the place for 

 three years, to the entire satisfaction of the proprietor ; wood is 

 sawed, corn ground, and water supplied to the house, stables and 

 garden by a steam-engine : the land appropriated for farming pur- 

 poses appears to be thoroughly cultivated and to yield large crops ; 

 productive mowing grounds have been made out of worthless 

 meadows ; and in every department are evidences of good judg- 

 ment and practical skill. Orchards of apple and pear trees have 

 been planted with excellent success. Within six years thousands 

 of trees of various kinds have been successfully transplanted : many 



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