24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



turned to fresh marshes as a more familiar subject. Mr. Norton 

 introduced the following : 



Whereas, The hay crop being one of the most important crops 

 to the farmers of Maine, therefore, 



Resolved, That we recommend the clearing and draining of 

 meadow lands, where the elements of nutrition from cultivated 

 lands have been annually washed down into some neglected bog, 

 which by draining and cultivation may be made the most productive 

 and valuable part of the farm. 



He also stated his experience in draining a bog or meadow of 

 about four acres in extent, which by being improved in this manner, 

 had been changed from a worthless piece of ground to one of the 

 most valuable portions of the farm. 



Mr. Wilder said that the reclaimed meadows and swamps, 

 furnished the heaviest grass crops of any in Washington county. 

 The high lands will produce well with frequent supplies of manure, 

 but the drained swamps yielded freely without additions of 

 manure. He found such reclaimed lands twice as pi'ofitable as 

 high lands, and hoped the farmers of the State generally would 

 come to appreciate them at their real value. 



Mr. Bodge spoke of a meadow upon his own farm, that had been 

 doubled in the quantity of its produce, by being cleared. The 

 value of low meadows as an aid to upland farming in furnishing 

 keep for stock, and a means of making manure, is greater than is 

 genei'ally known. 



Mr. Scamman regarded the reclaiming of fresh meadows and 

 swamps as even more important than the reclaiming of salt 

 marshes, because the latter were found only along the coast line, 

 while the former were scattered over the length and breadth of the 

 State. 



Farming in Maine cannot be carried on successfully without 

 manure ; we cannot depend upon commercial manures solely for 

 the permanent improvement of our farms, although they are well 

 in their way. From whence then must this manure come ? From 

 our farm stock ; and tlie more hay the farmer grows the more 

 manure he can make. Stock has been high for the past few years, 

 and money has been scarce, and to raise money farmers have sold 

 off both stock and hay. In consequence of this the farmers' 

 manure heap has dwindled, his farm has been deteriorating, and 

 his crops diminishing. This cannot go on for many years — farm- 



