iNEVV ENGLAND FARiMER. 



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ob were in repair, and were where they 

 jfrlit to be. The door-yard was free from iii- 

 imhrances. Not a chip was out of place. 

 he parlor of the ho^tye, whose walls and floor 

 made of well prepared granite, was neat 

 h for the study, or ollice of any profes- 

 oiuil gentleman in the county. The house 

 id the good order of the house, completed the 

 St. m of neatness and correct management. 

 The farm of Mr. John Fairfield, of New-Bos- 

 m, is "situated on the east side of a large hill, 

 111 is naturally rough and rocky. The acre, 

 hirh he selected tor Potatoes, was a light 

 m1. The crop was luxuriant, and the Coni- 

 iliee awarded him the first premium. His 

 li.r crops appeared very well ; and his farm, 

 i.uijh generally hard and rocky, gave evidence 

 f imlustry and good mansgement. 

 DoclorMatthias Spalding, of Amherst, enter- 

 lliisnameasa competitor on Wheat, Indian 

 oni, and English Turnips. His Wheat had 

 illVrod by the drought, was harvested, and the 

 ommiltcc could not examine it. His field of 

 lilumCorn, containing about three acres, was 

 :rv good. The soil was warm, and light, and 

 ell cultivated. The crop was entitled to spe- 

 al notice ; but the excellence of other Corn 

 •ops prevented it from receiving a premium. 

 is English Turnips were in a flourishing con- 

 iion, and promised a large crop. For this 

 rofluct he was considered entitled to a pre- 

 lium. 



His farm is small, and the principal part of it 

 naturally hard. When he made his purchase. 

 nch of his land was in a rude, and almost un- 

 iltivated condition. But by taking out the 

 ones and making enclosures with good stone 

 alls ; by taking up piece after piece, and giv- 

 af each a thorough cultivation, he has made a 

 rze proportion of his farm like a garden. He 

 1= proved that the science of Agriculture is 

 laiited to practice ; that hard land may be 

 ade soft ; that poor land may be made rich ; 

 id that an unfruitful soil may be made produc- 

 10. His general method of husbandry im- 

 •ovcs his land, while it improves his crops. 

 The farm of Timothy Danforth, Esq. of Am- 

 ;rst, is made up of various soils. His land ly- 

 g on the Souhegan is very rich and fertile. — 

 is back lands are light and dry. A part of his 

 idian corn and a part of his oats are very 

 r,\\y. His field of Potatoes were very good. 

 is HuT.\ Baga, growing on nearly half an acre, 

 ;ry flourishing, and promised a valuable crop, 

 he Committee saw fit to honor these with a 

 reinium. His method of culture is improving 

 is farm and making it more profitable. 

 The Committee, as they were passing from 

 mlierst to Wilton, called on the Minister of 

 ilford. After having made the usual exami 

 itions, they awarded him a premium for Peas 

 id Bf.ans. 



They next examined the crops of Capt. Wm. 

 amsdell. His farm lies in Milford, bordering 

 p the Souhegan river. He has a large tract of 

 aluable intervale ; a good proportion of ara 

 le land ; and the remainder, pasturage and 

 oodland. The farm contains a variety of soil, 

 hich is adapted to a variety of products, which 

 e for the convenience of a faniily and for the 

 iterest of a farmer. His Wheat, in the fore 

 art ot the season, was very luxuriant, and 

 romised a first rate crop ; but growing on 

 arm land, it was greatly injured by the early 



drought. His Oats, not offiered for a premium, 

 were equal to any that were examined. His 

 field of I.vDiAN CoR-v, growing on light, warm 

 land, was extraordinary for that quality of soil ; 

 and be was awarded the second premium. His 

 farm is managed with great neatness and good 

 judgment ; and every thing about him denotes 

 that he is going ahead. 



The farm of Mr. James Dascomb, of Wilton, 

 is rough, hard, and rocky. It would require an 

 iron constitution, and a resolution, not to be bro- 

 ken or bent, to live upon it. On the eastern 

 declivity of his farm, he has a field of Indian 

 Corn, containing four acres. The soil is as 

 strong as stones can make it. It appears as if 

 the pavements of nature were broken up. — 

 Amidst this seeming wreck of rock?, the Corn is 

 of uncommon size. Though the hills were made 

 at a usual distance from each other, the Corn 

 was so thick that it was difficult to walk among 

 it. There were stalks more than 10 1-2 feet in 

 height, and well eared. The Committee were 

 pleased to award him the first premium ; and 

 they could only regret that it was no larger. 



The Committee went next to Mr. Oliver Whi- 

 ting's, of Wilton. There they examined a field 

 of Barlev, containing five acres. It was a fine 

 crop. It was estimated that it would yield -10 or 

 15 bushels per acre. It far exceeded any other 

 Barley crop, which was offered. The premium 

 was awarded to him. His farm contains more 

 than 700 acres of land. Though he is a man of 

 but little more than 40 years of age, he has ac- 

 quired the principal part of it by hard labor and 

 good management. 



The foregoing awards were made after the 

 Committee had examined the products of all the 

 competitors ; and they were made according to 

 the best of their judgment ; and generally with 

 unanimity. Though each competitor did not 

 excel in every thing ; yet they all excelled in 

 something, and no one has the mortification to 

 have his hopes blasted.nor his ambition checked. 

 The Committee are decidedly of opinion, 

 that the present method of awarding premiums 

 on Agricultural products is wisely chosen, and 

 that it will promote the great object of our So- 

 ciety. There is an equal chance for all ; and 

 the members will cease to fear to strive, when 

 they find that there is no injury attending a de- 

 feat. 



The task, which the Committee has perform- 

 ed, though laborious, and at a season somewhat 

 inconvenient, was a pleasant and improving one. 

 The hospitality of a farmer's board, drawn from 

 the resources of his own soil, was calculated to 

 gratify the taste of men, who had a relish for a 

 farmer's life. 



The committee were not unobserving travel- 

 lers as they passed from town to town. They 

 noticed the farms, which lay within their view, 

 and their distinguishing peculiarities. Many 

 were excellent ; and generally they were con- 

 sidered to be in an improving condition. It 

 was with painful anxiety the Canada Thistle 

 was observed on the sides of roads upon the 

 high lands, and upon the banks of streams, lest 

 that winged evil should visit and afBict this part 

 of the county. Here and there a bush thrust 

 itself through a breach in the fence ; now and 

 then an old hat or a bundle of rags looked con- 

 temptuously through a broken pane of a win- 

 dow, and by their looks hinted as if they would 

 appear in our Best legislature, and raise tbeir 



voice against the existence of Societies, which 

 were established to destroy their rights and 

 privileges. 



The most prominent defect, which was ob- 

 served among the fumers, was their neglect of 

 making Manure. With a very few exceptions, 

 they did not appear to make any more than 

 what they could not easily avoid making. Till 

 this defect is remedied ; till manure is consider- 

 ed the basis of good husbandry, Agriculture will 

 keep far behind th<' other art.«. 



All which is respectfully submitted by your 

 Committee. 



HUMPHREY MOORE,/or/;ic Ccmmittee. 



September 2-1, 1822. 



From the London Farmers' Journal. 



On the comparative merits of the Improved Short- 

 Iloriis and Hereford Cattle. 

 ■Horsford Hall, near Leeds, Sept. ^6, 1822. 

 Sir, 



I have for a long time had an anxious wish to 

 examine the question which has so much occu- 

 pied the minds of agriculturists — IVhether the 

 preference is to be given to the best Hereford Cat- 

 tle or to the Improved Short-Horns ? 



For this purpose, I last year made a tour into 

 the north of England, and am now just returned 

 from a similar journey of (we hundred miles 

 through Herefordshire and the adjoining coun- 

 ties. Nothing short of personal examination of 

 the animals in their respective districts, and in 

 their natural state, could give aie the means of 

 forming an opinion satisfactory to myself; wheth- 

 er it may be satisfactory to your readers may, 

 perhaps be doubted ; but if I give it with impar- 

 tiality, it will, I hope, receive candid attention, 

 and not be commented upon with too great se 

 verity. 



The animals designated by the title ef /;«- 

 proved Short-horns arc few in number, and they 

 are widely ditfused, as they have obtained high 

 prices, and have been carried into various ])la- 

 ces to ornament many stocks. They have soft, 

 silky, and mossy hair, and are very rich and mel- 

 low handlers ; handsome and gay in color ; ele- 

 gant in shape, large frames on very short and 

 small bone ; level and complete in all their 

 points, and take on fat rapidly. They give a 

 moderate-quantity of milk, and do not propagate 

 freely ; they attain maturity at a very early pe- 

 riod of life, and on this account, as well as from 

 the extreme laziness of their dispositions, they 

 are quite unfit for any labor. 



The Herefords are more equal as a class than 

 the improved Short-horns. Their off'al is equal- 

 ly fine, many of them handle well, and have a 

 very good quality of meat. They give very 

 little tRilk, but breed well, and arc hardy and 

 healthy. Their color is not attractive, their 

 dispositions are much less placid, their skins 

 thicker and more terse ; they, therefore, take 

 on fat less freely, especially at an early age ; 

 they do not attain so great a stature in the same 

 number of months, and have never at any peri- 

 od, but particularly in youth, that perfect sym- 

 metry which distinguishes the Short-horns. 

 Their hind quarters are very frequently coarse 

 and short ; their rumps low, their heads fleshy 

 and heavy, and their breasts scanty and defec- 

 tive ; but Jheir shoulders are almost uniformly 

 fine ; their neck veins full, their flanks in some 

 few instances good, and tbeir twists generally 

 excellent. I found a vast number with flat sidet. 



