CUMBERLAND COUNTY SOCIETY. Q1 



urely along the road leading through the well-kept up, park-like, 

 grounds of the Misses Deering, the fine order of which, excited 

 strong desires for a closer view ; and with a good long look, in pass- 

 ing, at the large, flat and formerly very wet field, on the Saccarappa 

 road, belonging to Mr. St. John Smith of Portland, observed with 

 pleasure the beneficial effect of thorough drainage, which must be 

 as gratifying to the able superintendent, farmer John F, Leavitt, as 

 to its owner. 



The farm of Mr. Clement P. Maxwell, in Westbrook, was next 

 examined. Here Mr. M. was found diligently working upon his 

 new house, which was part of a well devised plan given off clearly 

 and concisely upon the field of proposed action. It included the 

 new house, outbuildings and barn ; underdraining ; reclaiming bog 

 and rough pasture land ; fencing ; and live stock improvement. 



The committee then called at the farm of Messrs George and 

 Lewis P. Warren, near the village of Saccarappa, where, among 

 interesting things agricultural, too numerous to detail, attention was 

 directed to a deposition of fine mud at the outlet of a box underdrain 

 (of wood) which had percolated through the seams and cracks ; the 

 quantity of it, as it lay in three large heaps, was estimated at about 

 twenty cartloads. One hint obtained from the practice on this farm, 

 originating with Mr. L. P. Warren, must be disclosed for the benefit 

 of all proposing to drain with tile : it is a cheap and excellent cov- 

 ering for the joints, in a strip of birch bark, about four inches wide, 

 and long enough to reach the sole of the tile, whatever size may be 

 used. As Mr. Goodale, on noticing it, remarked, "it makes the 

 nearest approach to pipe tile with collar." From its being so readily 

 obtainable, its flexibility, and imperishable nature, birch bark is most 

 admirably adapted to this purpose, and is, as a matter of economy, 

 far superior to inverted turf, spent tan, or clean gravel, heretofore 

 used as strainers. 



On the 27th, the committee, joined by Messrs, Reed and Jones 

 of Westbrook, made a slight examination of the farm belonging to 

 Mr. Samuel D. Warren of Boston, Mass., situated in Westbrook, 

 near the Cumberland Paper Mills at Ammoncongin Falls of the 

 Presumpscot river. Mr. Warren is a partner in the Paper Mill 

 Company, and this farm is a sort of adjunct to that enterprising and 

 solid establishment. Unfortunately an accident had occurred to the 



