REPORTS.

FARMS.

To the Litchfield County Agricultural Society:

The Committee appointed for the purpose of viewing Farms ask leave to make their report.

There were but two farms to which our attention was called, viz., William Scoville's farm in Watertown, lying on the west side of the central village in that town, and Thomas Watson's farm, lying on the road from Torringford to Bakersville, in the town of New Hartford.

We first went to visit the farm of Mr. Scoville; a farm containing sixty-three acres, forty-eight of which he had been in possession of thirteen years, and fifteen of it three years. We here found that a system of close farming had been adopted, or the plan of taking a field and bringing it as directly as possible into the best condition the land was susceptible of.

It appears that much of the land, at the time Mr. Scoville took possession of it, was in that low state which waste land with a heavy subsoil, being continually cropped and never fed, will fall into. The fences and buildings were dilapidated. The stones generally were left upon or in the soil where they were made. These were now thoroughly removed and made into fences or used for filling water-gullies, or placed in under-drains, a liberal supply of which has been made in the soil. The fences are now in fine order, and the fields laid off in good form. stones, and covered over with improved.

Deep gullies have been filled with earth, and the surface greatly

Mr. Scoville has practiced plowing deep and thoroughly. He has a piece of buckwheat and turnips which look very fine, upon a piece of land which had hitherto been considered too unpromising to till, and so far as known, had never been plowed; and now, instead of a forbidding look, it seems to invite to labor with strong promise of success. This is not the result of expensive manuring, but of deep breaking up of the soil, and thoroughly subduing everything that was

in opposition to useful productions. This seems to have been his treatment of his land generally.

His crop of corn of four acres, and buckwheat of four acres, and one-half acre of turnips, look like rewarding labor. A piece of corn, sowed the 25th day of June, showed a very heavy burden of feed, and we believe it well worthy the attention of farmers, as a reserve supply for stock in the fall, to meet the uncertainties resulting from our variable seasons.

Mr. Scoville has done well for the time he has been on the place. His buildings are in good repair, and well arranged for the comfort of his family, and his out-buildings for the protection of his stock.

The increased productiveness of the farm may be judged from the increase in the amount of hay, which stands at forty loads against thirteen, when he began upon the first piece of forty-eight

acres.

Mr. Scoville's attention has been closely given to the raising of fine cattle, in which his success is well known, and we sincerely regret the loss he was called to meet in the death of his three valuable animals by lightning, in June last.

This is a large

We next went to view the farm of Mr. Watson. farm containing five hundred and thirty-two acres of improved and wood land together, all lying in one body.

Mr. Watson began business upon a portion of this land of two hundred acres, A. D. 1821, paying a rent on that part until recently, and adding by purchase from time to time, till he had brought together a farm of five hundred and thirty-two acres, lying in one body, with the exception of highways running through it.

This farm lies in the form of a basin, extending from the lower level about equal distances up the rising ground each way. There are on the farm three dwelling-houses. The one in which Mr. Watson lives is situated on the northern slope of the basin and is approached from the road below through a beautiful avenue bordered with trees planted by the hand of Mr. Watson, as the first labor that he performed when commencing business for himself. The position of this house is such as to command a view of almost the whole farm, having a level center of about fifty acres, and the sides rising gently each way, thus bringing into connection every variety of soil to be found among our New England hills, from the richest pasture and meadow on the alluvial flats, to the warm southern exposure so well adapted to English grains.

The improvements which Mr. Watson claims that he has made,

consist in removing stone and placing them in good fences, of which he has made eleven hundred and fifty rods of whole wall, subduing hedge-rows of trees and bushes; in bringing into subjection land which for many years had been suffered to run wild, and making it yield quietly and bountifully productions useful to life; in turning the strength of his land from sustaining brandy orchards, to bearing that which should contribute to health and comfort; in erecting barns, of which he has eight large and four smaller ones; in bringing water by pipes into two of his houses, and six of his yards for stock; and in cultivating various kinds of fruits, of which he has a good supply.

Upon a farm so large we can not well go into detail, but upon a careful estimate we believe that upon this farm worth $12,000, $4,500 of it have been made by improvements under the hand of Mr. Watson. And while we can not call his plan of operations strictly close farming, or as close as Mr. Scoville's, yet it is a paying plan. His land much of it is very rich, both his grass land and his tilled fields yielding abundant crops. This is evident from the success of Mr. Watson. Few men begin life with little means, and at the age of fifty-four can look upon the result of their management and labor in a farm which with its stock, crops and tools, is worth $16,000. Very few we think can do this as the result of agriculture alone.

It is evident that it has been Mr. Watson's plan to do everything thoroughly and in its season; never to fear labor, nor to neglect those sources of information which enable man to direct his labor aright. To this in a great measure, we believe, is to be attributed his success.

After viewing these farms, your committee have decided that, in their opinion, Mr. Scoville is entitled to the first premium of a silver cup, of the value of $20.

Thomas Watson the second premium of a silver cup, of the value of $10.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

LITCHFIELD, Sept. 21, 1854.

L. HEATON, Chairman.

FIELD CROPS.

To the Litchfield County Agricultural Society:

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Litchfield County Agricultural Society, held at Litchfield, January 9th, 1855, the following premiums were awarded on crops, viz.

For the best acre of corn, ninety-six bushels to the acre, first premium of $4, to Willis Law, of Litchfield.

For the second best acre of corn, eighty-two and one-quarter bushels to the acre, second premium of $3, to Nathan Hart, Jr., of West Cornwall.

For the best acre of oats, sixty-nine bushels to the acre, to Nathan Hart, Jr., first premium of $3.

For the best quarter of an acre of winter turnips, seven hundred and thirty-two bushels to the acre, to Abraham Beecher, of Bethlem, first premium of $2.

For the second best quarter of an acre of turnips, five hundred and four bushels to the acre, to T. L. Hart, of West Cornwall, second premium of $1.

For the best one-eighth of an acre of beets, first premium to Nathan Hart, Jr., of West Cornwall, $2.

For the best quarter of an acre of carrots, first premium to David Lucas, Jr., of Goshen, $2.

For the second best quarter of an acre of carrots, Nathan Hart, Jr., $1.

For the best half acre of potatoes, first premium to Jonathan Wadhams, of Goshen, $3.

A premium of $2, was awarded to Nathan Hart, Jr., of Cornwall, for a crop of buckwheat, of twenty-seven bushels to the acre, raised upon a piece of reclaimed land, by thorough under-draining. The land previous to draining was unproductive and almost valueless. Also, a discretionary premium of $1, for a very commendable crop of sowed corn.

Attest,

R. A. FORD, Recording Secretary.

BULLS AND STEERS.

To the Litchfield County Agricultural Society:

The Committee appointed to view and report upon Bulls and Steers, would say generally, that the stock exhibited in this department reflects much credit upon the owners, for the many valuable qualities of the stock exhibited; and particularly they would specify the fine pair of three year old Devon steers, exhibited by Mr. Amos M. Judd; and also, a pair of the same age and breed, by Harmon Bird.

The committee award the first premium of $3, to Amos M. Judd ; and the second premium of $2, to Harmon Bird; also, a pair of Durham steers, were exhibited by Benjamin Webster, to whom we award the first premium in that class of $3. Also, a very fine pair of Native Americans, exhibited by Morris Humaston, to whom they award the first premium in that class of $3; and the second premium of $2, to Lauren Terrell.

Of the two year olds, your committee would mention with pleasure, the fine pair of grade Devons, exhibited by Frederick W. Judson, to whom they award the first premium of $2; and the second premium of $1, to the grade Durhams, exhibited by George E. Morse.

No yearling steers were exhibited in our department of stock Devon bulls. In this department of stock, your committee would notice the fine yearling bull, exhibited by Egbert M. Rogers, of Cornwall, to whom they award the first premium of $2; also, a discretionary premium of $1, for a yearling bull, exhibited by Roderick Atwood. Your committee also award a premium of $2 for a native yearling bull, exhibited by Rufus Smith; and also a premium of $2 for the best native two year old bull, exhibited by Frederick Whittlesey; and last in the class of bulls, your committee are happy to make most honorable mention of the fine three year old bull, Col. Fremont, bred by Mr. Sheafe, sired by imported Duke of Exeter, Dam, Red Rose 2d, owned and exhibited by T. S. Gold, of Cornwall.

Your committee would say briefly, but most emphatically, that this fine animal shows unmistakable evidence of a pure blood worthy of its most noble ancestry, and to its exhibitors, we cheerfully award the first premium of $4.

All of which is most respectfully submitted.

M. D. F. SMITH, Chairman.