110 FIELD DAY AT TOPSFIELD ; 



purchase by the annexation of adjoining lands, so that it 

 now contains between four and five hundred acres. It is 

 only within six or eight years that Mr. Peirce has inaugu- 

 rated and perfected many extensive improvements : sub- 

 stantial and well-built faced stone walls now run all over 

 the estate ; low lands have been drained in a thorough and 

 systematic manner, and the whole farm has been brought 

 to a high degree of productiveness. The barn which 

 was built by Mr. Aaron Goldthwaite of Salem, as were 

 most of the other buildings, is an immense structure, the 

 upper portion of which is used for the storage of hay, 

 while the lower floor has accommodations for horses and 

 cattle ; the livestock now kept numbers 130 cows (and 

 heifers), 11 workiug cattle, 8 horses and 4 bulls Ifol- 

 stein, Ayrshire and Jerseys are the breeds represented ; 

 in the rear of the barn is the blacksmith's shop, with a 

 twenty-horse power engine, where the general repairing 

 of the farm tools is done ; also the poultry house 100 

 feet by 15 feet, and other buildings. The Newburyport 

 turnpike runs through the estate ; the farmhouse and 

 farm-buildings are located on the southern side, while the 

 mansion house and porter's lodge (a most picturesque 

 little cottage) are across the way on the hillside rising to 

 the north. On the top of the hill in the rear of the 

 house is a fine tower containing a tank with a capacity 

 of 13,000 gallons ; at the foot of the hill to the west is a 

 never-failing supply of pure spring water and a pumping 

 station. From the top of the tower is a magnificent view 

 of the surrounding country and towns. Mt. Wachuset 

 in this state, and the waters of Massachusetts Bay from 

 Nahant to Cape Ann, are always yisible on clear days ; and 

 the White Mountains are said tq be occasionally seen. 



The noonday lunch was partaken of in the large barn, 

 tables and other suitable accommodations being provided. 



