RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 31 



that from five and a half acres of my farm, that had not been 

 mown within the memory of man, until the time stated above, 

 I have cut twelve and a half tons of hay, which was valued at 

 $16 per ton, ^i^OO. 



Otlier portions of my farm have been made productive by 

 ploughing under greensward, manuring the same after plough- 

 ing, and immediately sowing it down to oats and liay seed. In 

 this way old and worn-out pasture lands have been restored to 

 good feed. By the use of guano on an acre of land ploughed 

 and soAvn to grass, I have found beneficial results. Where 

 ,the best of compost manure had been applied side by side 

 (three tons to the acre) with guano, it was found that tlie crop 

 where the guano was spread was nearly a quarter larger. It is 

 evident, however, that manure is "the farmer's capital," and 

 farms worn out, or meadows requiring to* be cultivated, must 

 be well manured. The farmer who most thoroughly devotes 

 his attention to making manures will reap the most bountiful 

 crops, and be the most richly paid for his labor. 



In conclusion, I have to ask that the committee will examine, 

 with some care, the meadow which I have reclaimed, with the 

 hope that they may be enabled to stimulate the citizens of Barn- 

 stable County to renewed activity in the restoration of thousands 

 of unproductive acres of meadow land within her borders. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



S. B. Phinney. 



Barnstable, September 25, 1855. 



RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 



The inducements offered by most of the societies for the per- 

 manent improvement of land, are comparatively small, and yet, 

 looking to the real and future prosperity of the State, one would 

 suppose this to be the point of all others where the full influence 

 of a society should be exerted. A chance animal, or a fancy arti- 

 cle, prepared for exhibition, may be all well enough in its way, 

 and such exhibitions should, perhaps, be encouraged. But the 



