UNDERDRAINING. 109 



and a half at bottom, and two and a half feet deep. The length 

 of all the ditches is between four and five hundred rods. 1 

 think the muck taken out will more than pay for the digging. 



The piece for which I claim a premium I commenced improv- 

 ing in 1856, and sowed a part of it with grass in 1857. The 

 remainder 1 planted with potatoes, which did first-rate, taking 

 about fourteen hills for a bushel. That fall I prepared the 

 remainder, and planted both parts with potatoes the next 

 season, but where I planted two years they were smaller. I 

 should think that the whole piece averaged about twenty-three 

 or twenty-four hills to the bushel. Last October I ploughed the 

 whole piece, and sowed the whole with grass seed, and a part of 

 it with winter rye. The rye was very good. I think that the 

 reclaiming of this piece did not cost over fifty dollars to the 

 acre. 



None of this land was worth more than $15 or $20 per acre, 

 for any other purpose than reclaiming, when I commenced 

 on it. 



SOUTHBOROUGH, 1859. 



UNDERDRAINING. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



For the best conducted experiment in underd raining land, 

 regard being had to the variety of soil, subsoil and other local 

 circumstances, premiums to the amount of twenty-five dollars 

 are offered by the society. 



Your committee have found much satisfaction and instruc- 

 tion in their inquiries and observations on this subject. 

 Although very few entries have been made for the premiums 

 offered — all those who have experimented feeling themselves to 

 be learners, rather than teachers of the art of underdraining — 

 still, in addition to viewing what has been done, we have 

 received statements from several of our best farmers, all of 

 which are annexed, that will be found highly useful, as guides 

 in experiments of this character. 



