The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-12-14
agrlrultural.
Worcester agricultural Society.
REPORT ON FARMS.
TConcluded.I

WINcHENDoN is at present growing town,
has been famous for the large quantity and
good quality Of lumber grown and made here,
and is still more distinguished in this respect,
probably, than any town in the Common
wealth. The quantity Of lumber of different
kinds, annually sawed, may be estimated at
twenty hundred thousand, or two millions feet,
and as much more in the borders Of the neigh
boring towns. This lumber is supposed to
weigh, when seasoned, about one ton per
1000 feet, and is mostly conveyed 90, 80 or 40
miles to market. A word for Canal y This
town contains variety of soil-hills, plains,
meadows and swamp land. The hills, en-
bracing, perhaps, two thirds of the town, are
generally good soil, the plains are lighter
soil, but easy TO cultivate and profitable for
grain, and the farmers are beginning to turn
their attention to the cultivation OF these
lands with good success. The meadow lands
are generally good, and the swamps good for
nothing. A considerable number Of good
farms are also found in this, as in the neigh
boring towns. Those of Thomas Greenwood,
Samuel Brown, and Paul Raymond, are "a
mong the handsomest and best in this district.
Their natural situation is beautiful, on the
side of large swell Of land, gently slopiug
to the south. The large, regular orchards,
the large buildings and handsome stone walls
render them extremely beautiful, and do honor
to their owners, they are also Of an excellent
natural soil, and very productive. The same
men live on them who began them, or entered
them when but very little was cleared. Col
Woodbury., and James Raymond. in the south
east, have large and profitable farms. Those
of Phinehas Whitney, and Benjamin Adams,
in the centre, and of Amasa Whitney, Ephraim
Soft ia,
the north, arc all good farms and well man
aged. That of Ephraim Murdoch, Esq. is
second, in point of neatness and taste, in this
district, he has very tasteful and profitable
garden, fine orchard of ingrafted fruit, and,
in short, every thing in order and as it should
be. But what should be more particularly
noticed, is Cider-mill of his own invention,
(without patent on quite new plan or con-
strUction, with the NUTS Tor cylinders with
logs and corresponding mortises) operating
horizontally, instead of perpendicularly, and
| aided by a cog-wheel above the NUTS. The
whole is moved by horse passing round with
a sweep in the usual way. 1t is under cover
of a building on the hill side, having con-
venient place Of deposit above, and a half
cellar, open to the south, underneath. The
peculiar excellence OF this mill is, that it will
grind twice as fast with half the power or
animal strength required in common mills.
Those who may be DESTROYS of obtaining a
mill of this kind, or correct knowledge of
this, had better view it themselves, as the
Committee profess not to be skilled in descrb-
ing machinery of any kind. Stephen Williams,
Esq. and other distinguished farmers have
seen it, and thought il highly useful inven-
ton. COL Benjamin Adams is farmer Of the
first order. Time will not permit descrip-
ton Of his large and we'll constructed barns
and barn-yards, the best in the district. He
had, among other things, three swine, the fat
| test, Eandsomest, and heaviest, viewed in
the district. These are fed but twice day.
On one Of the Committee remar1ing, that he
never saw hogs thrive so freely in hot reather,
observed that the pen, or lodging place, OF
these was under the barn, and between two
large stone walls, where the air had free pas
sage, and which was always sufficiently cool
in the hottest weather. The GOODNESS OF this
pen was supposed to contribute TO the health
and comfort of these animals, which are hot
natured, and cause them to thrive more free
! ly. Capt. Phinehas Whitney has produc.
| tive farm, but his lands are too extensive to
be managed with neatness. lie cuts, it is
thought, the most English hay of any man in
this district, if not in the County. The guam
tity has been varously estimated, by some as
high as 900 tons--perhaps $50 tons would be
a fair estimation, lie is mentioned here for