28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



pose of renovation. It is hoped that valuable information will 

 be derived from the experiment on the application of manures, 

 which will probably be made by the county societies under the 

 direction of this board. 



If it should be proved by the proposed experiment that 

 manures applied to the surface arc of equal efficacy with those 

 harrowed or ploughed in, and thus incorporated with the soil, 

 then the plan above suggested may readily give place to the 

 system of surface manuring. 



The returned circulars show a large fraction of the pasture 

 lands of the State to be wet, cold, and almost valueless ; and 

 they concur in the opinion that such lands may be improved by 

 drainage. 



The committee have not the means of estimating the wet por- 

 tions accurately, but think they comprise at least one-fifth of 

 the whole. In seasons of drought, the owners are obliged to 

 rely almost entirely upon the crude and unsavory herbage of 

 the wet portions of their pastures for the subsistence of their 

 stock ; hence the great importance of their thorough renovation. 



" In every town in the State there are extensive bogs and 

 wet meadows into which the surrounding hills have, for centu- 

 ries, been pouring their fertilizing elements," but by reason of 

 an excess of water, are almost worthless ; but thorough drain- 

 age and moderate manuring have, in many instances, converted 

 them into some of the most productive mowing lands in the 

 State. 



Experience has shown, also, that wet grazing lands arc as 

 much improved by drainage and manuring as the wet mowing 

 lands which have been reclaimed from bogs and swamps, and 

 that their productiveness and value are as greatly enhanced 

 thereby. 



Drains are variously constructed, according to the views and 

 means of different individuals. Covered drains are most ap- 

 proved and are most convenient, especially on mowing lands 

 and lands that are to be ploughed. Drains partly filled with 

 small stones and covered, are the most common and cheapest 

 where stones are abundant ; but where stones cannot be con- 

 veniently obtained, drains constructed with sole tiles are said 

 to be as cheap, as effectual, and as durable as any. On grazing 

 lands, open drains, if properly constructed, are quite as effectual 



