The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-04

ty, but bida fair to attain it in good season.
Respectfully your obedient servant,
o. FlSKE.
"Con. GARDNER BURBANK,
Chairman Of Committee
for uistting Farms, &c.
"Worcester, sept.2 1, 1885,"
We visited the farm of Benjamin Fay, Esq.
cf Marlborough. This farm contains 100
acres of strong rugged land, not by nature the
most favoured spot but by dint of persever-
ance 1t has been made pleasant, productive,
and profitable farm. The attention OF the
Committee was particularly attracted by a flne
piece Of meadow. We were informed that II
was. some years since, cold sunken swamp,
oyerrun with cold springs, and impossible with
an empty cart. This lapd has NOW a good
hard bottom, and produces great burden Of
foxtal and toulmeadow. 1t las been reclaim
ed by sinking deep bitches in the centre oibis
land. and other parts, dictated by the direc-
ton of the springs, filing them with small
stones from the adjacent fields, aad covering
them with the earth thrown from the bitches;
and also by taking gravel from knoll IN the
centre of his meadow and spreading 1T over
the surface; which process has entirely chang
ed the sterile nature of the soil, and convert
ed it into warm, rich and permanent moving
ground, not inferior in value to the best part
Of the farm. We believe there are very lew
farms that might not be improved by this spe-
cies of husbandry, and at an expense perfectly
within the reach Of every farmer.
We visited the garden of Mr.. Elihu Blake,
Of Westborouga. 1t contains about acres,
principally improved with the grapevine and
with fruit-trees. The situation of Mr.. Blake
presents a beautiful, romantic appearance. 1t
is one Of those unusual instances of design
without order, and system without regularity.
| He has 100 peach-trees, most of them in a
bearing state. He has also apricots and a
great variety of other fruit. He has cult;vat-
ed grapes with great success; and has made
five barrels of excellent wine in year, from the
product Of three or four rods Of ground, which.
at the moderate price of one dollar per gallon,
would amount TO $50 dollars. The avails OF
one apricot tree have, the present year, a.
mounted TO the sum of 16 dollars.
| Very little wine has been made from the
grape, in this part of the country; but we be-
| leve there can be no substantial reason assign
ed, why this species of culture is So far liz the
rear of every other. The grape grows spon-
| taneously among us in great profusion. This
indicates a soil and climate congenial to this
kind of fruit; and no doubt can be entertain
ed that given quantity of land will yield as
much profit as can be obtained by any other
species of cultivation. Who would not feel a
| laudable pride from being able to furnish his
| table with excellent wine from his own vim.
tage?
We were highly gratifed in the examination
of the farm Of COL Samuel Henry, of West
borough. This farm contains 100 acres of the
| first quality of land. We were informed that
thirty-ive years ago, it was well cultivated
and well known in this part Of the country, by
the name Of the Baker Farm but this once
! fertile and productive spot Of land was so de-
generated, at the time IT came into the posses
sion of Col. Henry, as to summer and winter
only five cows and yoke of oxen. II was
| literally covered with brush, thorns, and wild
grass But, in the short space of five years.
this enterprising and industrious farmer has Sc
far reclaimed this farm, has so far brought
order out of chaos, as to cut 80 tons of good
hay, and summer and winter from forty to ffty
head Of cattle. He raises on this farm from
20 700 bushels of grain, fattens 6000lbs. Of
beef, and 5000 lbs. of pork, and makes 2O0C
lbs. Of cheese, and 1000 lbs. of butter, annual.
| ly. We were pleased with his method o.
drawing water from deep well, to supply hi:
cattle in large pasture, by means of sy.
phon, formed of lead pipe. This we'll is sit.
uated on an elevated spot. 70 draw water
OH this principle, one end of the syphon mus
be carried sufficiently down the decvity O.
the hill to get below the level of the surface
of the water in the well. This never fails tc
afford constant supply of water for his who.e
stock of cattle. Col. Henry has not, in the
improvement of his farm,- lost sight of the i'm.
portance of good cattle and swine: they have
| .tpra oc l. ~
scarcely imagine case where the work Of i'm
provement has been more obvious or more
rapid.
| We visited the farm of Governor LINCOLN
managed under his immediate direction. II
contains about 300 acres, arranged into lot:
with great taste, almost every rod of which i:
fenced with good, durable, well-built wall ;
and the extremities Of the farm are made Of
easy access by the aid of lanes and roade, 10.
Gated and made with great care and labor.
The inspection of this farm gave the Com
mi:tee great pleasure and much useful nstruc-
ton. II bears, in every feature, striking marks
of good husbandry. Every acre of this extern
sive farm has undergone great improvement
and about 100 acres of it have been reclaimed
from sickly, sunken, black-growth swamp,
most of which was impossible, either by man
or beast, covered with water, alders, and hem
locks, and inhabited only by serpents and wild
| aninals.--This once extensive and unsightly
| swamp, has, in the short space of four or five
years, by the Transforming hand of industry ane
enterprise, been converted into most beauti-
full and fertile plain, on which the eye now
delights to dwell. 1t is richly variegated, in
the proper season, with luxuriant crop Of
English grass, corn, wheat, and oats. The
great scatch-acord in conquerng this swamp,
was perseverance,. Nothing but steady and
systematic efforts could ever have surrounded
the obstacles which presented themselves in
subdung this piece of land. Taking off the
wood and brush DIGGING IN the stumns