248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fined to the central part of the marshes, near the creek where 

 the draina2:e is most advanced. 



Some ditches, from three to five feet deep, and in all four 

 hundred and sixty-four feet long, have been dug during the 

 earlier part of the season for the drainage of the " Parsonage 

 Meadow," which is situated in the centre of the marshes, and 

 had sufl'ered much from want of drainage. The ditches are 

 running several rods apart, and are connected by shallow 

 cross-drains made by a drain-plough. Also a barn, one hun- 

 dred feet by eighty, has been built upon "Fox Island," a 

 natural elevation in the marsh meadows ; it belongs to the 

 same party who has inaugurated a more efficient system of 

 drainage. The number of the proprietors of the marshes has 

 been reduced to about one-third (52) of that of the original 

 owners ; they propose to organize under the law of general 

 fields, and an application for that purpose to the superior 

 court has already been made. 



After considering carefully the nature and extent of the 

 physical and chemical changes which of late are going on in 

 the marshes, in connection with the present character and 

 condition of the natural vegetation, as well as actual experi- 

 mental results of the past season, I feel as if nothing need be 

 added for the present to my last year's recommendation 

 resrardins: the best mode of a successful cultivation of the 

 reclaimed lands ; namely, one well-devised general plan for 

 the drainage of the entire area of the marshes, and an eflectual 

 use of the plough wherever the present sod becomes too 

 spongy and disconnected to protect a healthy crop of good 

 fresh-meadow grass against the extremes of the season. 



The question of manuring remains of secondary importance 

 as long as large quantities of vegetable matter are still unde- 

 composed in the soil, and the system of drainage remains in 

 the present deficient condition. 



Ch. a. Goessmann. 

 S. B. Phinney. 



The report was accepted. 



Dr. Wakefield, for the committee appointed to consider 

 and report upon the days for beginning the fairs of the several 

 societies, submitted the following report : — 



