AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND GEOLOGY. 219 



ground for mowing as is anywhere to be seen — all the surplus water being effectually drained 

 off by the centre ditch, with a few covered side-cuts. 

 It is rare that an experiment is witnessed paying so well in so short a time. 



Experiment No. 2 — by Adino Page, Danvers. 



This was on the Danvers Town Farm, on a lot containing between three and four acres. 

 Operations commenced in 1850. Previously, it had been a sunken, offensive morass, yielding 

 no valuable growth. 



A main ditch was cut through the centre, and shore ditches on either side, and cross ditches 

 about fifty feet apart. Many of these were covered, so as not to appear on the surface. In 

 some places, the mud was eight feet or more deep ; in others, from three to five feet deep. 

 From the shores and knolls adjoining gravel and loam was carried on, so as to give firmness 

 sufficient to sustain the plow. When the water was drained eighteen inches below the sur- 

 face, where the soil could not be well stirred by the plow, it was effectually done by the use 

 of a meadow-hoe constructed for the purpose. Most of the labor was done by the paupers 

 at the alms-house, (chiefly foreigners,) and no pains was spared to have it thoroughly done. 

 Very little fertilizing material was applied, it being thought rich enough to support any crop 

 that could be started upon it. It was sown to grass in 1851. Very little grass in 1852 ; but 

 between twelve and thirteen tons of the best hay on the farm was cut on this meadow the pre- 

 sent season. It is so situated that the surplus liquids from the pig-yard and the sink can be 

 conducted in any quantity and diffused over the land. With such an application, there is 

 good reason to believe four tons to the acre of valuable fodder will be grown annually on this 

 meadow. It is now an appendage to the farm of the value of $800 at least ; whereas four 

 years ago it was of no value, but rather an eyesore and an offence, breeding miasmata and 

 death. The exact expense of the experiment Mr. P. is not able to estimate. The work has 

 been done at "odd jobs," when other labors did not press, and by those who would have 

 done little else if this work had not been done. 



Experiment No. 3 — by T. E. Pay son, of Rowley. 



This was commenced about three years ago, on a part of an extensive meadow of fifty 

 acres or more. The water having been drained away by a main ditch and a sufficient num- 

 ber of cross ditches, Mr. Payson commenced by cutting very narrow ditches, about five feet 

 apart, and throwing the contents of these ditches upon the surface. 



The beds thus formed were planted with potatoes. In 1852, the crop of potatoes paid for 

 all the labor and manure that had been applied to the part thus treated. The potato-vines 

 were thrown into the narrow ditches, and the entire surface smoothed and sowed with 

 grass-seed. The crop of good English hay in 1854 exceeded three tons to the acre. 

 Several other acres were planted with potatoes, in like manner, the last season ; but, in 

 consequence of the failure of the crops by reason of the rot, the labor has been, in a mea- 

 sure, lost. Until the rot came on, Mr. P. felt encouraged to hope that he should soon have an 

 extended field of English mowing, producing three tons or more to the acre, without any 

 expenditure of capital in bringing it about, except the moderate price of about $20 an acre 

 paid for the land. 



Experiment No. 4 — by Horace Ware, of Marblehead. 



This was on about three acres of swamp, situated adjoining a pond of about five 

 acres. Mr. W.'s first operation was to cut a ditch through upland of half a mile in extent 

 to the shore of the sea, so as to reduce the height of the water in the pond four feet. This 

 caused the surface of the swamp to settle about two feet, leaving it still about two feet above 

 the pond. Then all bushes and other obstructions were cleared from the surface, and a 

 coating of gravel and night-soil mixed, to the depth of about three inches, was applied. 

 The crop of potatoes grown on this land the first year paid for all that had been done 

 to it, and it has since yielded annually three or more tons of good English hay to the acre. 



