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declivity of the hills they make trenches in the sand, five or six 

 feet deep, more or less, and having put the corn into sacks made 

 of grass, they deposit it in these trenches, and cover with sand 

 three or four feet deep. The grain is as well kept as in our gran- 

 aries." " Arrived again at Saco, September 21st, and found 

 that the Indians had gathered their corn." From these extracts 

 it will be seen that we only pursue the methods which the aborigi- 

 nes invented, at a time when their civilization had reached a 

 higher point than we usually assign to them. 



We take this opportunity to return our thanks to numerous in- 

 dividuals, who have forwarded our objects by their readiness in 

 furnishing the desired information. Wherever we have been we 

 have met Avith a welcome reception and generous hospitahty. We 

 have formed a higher opinion of agriculture from our more inti- 

 mate acquaintance with those engaged in it. Foremost in impor- 

 tance among industrial pursuits, it will be foremost in its pecu- 

 niary returns, when the same accurate knowledge and careful 

 oversight ai*e applied to it, which are found indispensable in man- 

 ufactures and commerce. 



For the Committee, 



JOHN M. MERRICK, 

 CHARLES C. SEWALL, 

 EDWARD L. KEYES. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FARMS. 



The Committee on Farms are happy to have it in their power 

 to state that they have not been permitted, during the past year? 

 to be idle or unoccupied in their official capacity. They have 

 been invited to visit two farms. They complied with the request- 

 that were made. They attended with pleasure to their official 

 duties ; and will now proceed to give a brief account of their 

 doings. 



On the 8th July, the Committee, or a part of them, at the re- 

 quest of Hon. S. D. Bradford of West Roxbuiy, visited his farm. 



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