FARMER'S REPORT. To the Superintendent of the Lyman School for Boys. I respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Sept. 30, 1897. I consider the year past an exceedingly successful one. Our herd of twenty-five or twenty-six cows of a few years ago, which was kept with some difficulty on the feed produced by the farm, has been increased to forty-two head of grown cattle and eleven head of young stock for which we shall have an abundance of food. In 1892, during the ten months beginning December 1, and ending September 30, the farm produced 4,749 cans of milk; in 1897, during the same ten months, the farm has produced 16,383 cans of milk. Our pasturage is barely sufficient to keep the young stock; for this reason the milch cows have been kept in the barn-yards during the day time, and fed in the barn almost entirely, upon green forage brought to them. We have grown, among other things, about eighty tons of English hay, 180 tons of ensilage, about 20 tons of mangolds and 140 bushels of onions. It is my purpose and endeavor to build up our herd of cattle both in number and quality. I have attempted each year to try one or more new crops as experiments. This year I tried a new forage crop, a variety of Japanese millet, and consider it a grand success. Sown about the 15th of June, after a crop of rye had been taken from the piece, in seven weeks it had headed and was fit to cut, much of it being more than six feet tall. From this piece of millet, which included about three-fourths of an acre, thirty-two cows were enabled to be fed sixteen days. As usual, a large amount of time has been spent on improvements to drives and lawns. All spare time has been used in improving land already under cultivation and in preparing new land for cultivation. Two new poultry houses have been built, an addition to our horse barn has been made, and a piggery is now in process of construction. Under the able management of Mr. Swift, our poultry has been very successful and profitable. Thanking all for their kind co-operation and assistance, I am, Yours respectfully, C. S. GRAHAM, Farmer. REPORT OF THE FARMER AT BERLIN FARM-HOUSE. To the Superintendent of the Lyman School. In this our second annual report of the farm at Berlin, we can say we are much better satisfied with the results of this year compared to last. Becoming better acquainted with the land, we have been able to raise an exceptionally good crop for the season, a large increase being made over last year in the amount of hay and vegetables produced. To our last year's stock of small fruit we have added raspberries, a new strawberry bed, and we hope by another year to have added a grapery. The abundant crop of melons has been a source of pleasure to the boys. Each boy has cultivated a garden of his own, in which he has raised vegetables according to his individual taste. A new root cellar has been built, which will prove a profitable addition to the place. Our dam at the pond affords a place to keep us occupied when farm. work is not pressing, while a chair shop takes the balance of spare time in winter. The pond not only affords a most excellent bathing place for the boys, but has also supplied our ice. The water supply is abundant, and we hope the day is not far distant when pipes will be laid to conduct water to the house. The appearance of the place has been much improved by the painting of the buildings and the clearing away of old fences, trees, etc. A telephone connects us with the main school at Westborough, which is a source of great convenience. The work done by the boys has been a credit to them, a spirit of cheerfulness and willingness being displayed in performing duties at first distasteful to them. I wish to thank you, as also our manager here, for your kind co-operation, which has enabled me to accomplish much which otherwise I could not have done. Respectfully submitted, IRA G. DUDLEY. |