40 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



experience in the different modes of subduing the bog. Two 

 of these lots, one being in grass and the other in oats the last 

 summer, are already reclaimed ; the other two are in different 

 stages of subjugation. 



The lot containing one acre and ninety-two rods, yielded this 

 year more than two and a quarter tons of good hay to the acre, 

 where, but a few years since, little of value grew. The pro- 

 duct of this lot, the present season, has been nearly sufficient 

 to cover the whole outlay of eighty dollars in reclaiming the. 

 same. This is a fact worthy the consideration of our intelli- 

 gent yeomanry, and, assured of like success, holders of bog 

 meadows and peat swamps, of which there are acres iipon acres 

 in the county of Worcester, should not fail to make a like 

 increase in the value of their real estate. 



One great object this society had in view in offering so gen- 

 erous premiums, as awards for a man's skill and labor, result- 

 ing in his own benefit, was that others might be benefited by 

 his experience, which should be communicated in a written 

 statement, setting forth all the facts in the case, especially 

 those touching the expense, labor, &c. This is a special re- 

 quirement, and we regret that these particulars were not 

 entered into by Mr. Fay, in his general statement, which, as it 

 is, we consider valuable to the public. 



Thomas W. Ward, Chairman. 



Statement of Jos i ah Fay. 



Gentlemen : — The land to which I would invite your atten- 

 tion consists of about ten acres of, reclaimed bog meadow. 

 About eight or nine years since, I commenced ditching it, 

 working upon it at various intervals, till, in 1852, I completed 

 the drainage by turning and lowering a brook which ran across 

 a portion of it. The value of the material taken from these 

 ditches was sufficient to pay the expense of digging. 



The same season (1852) I ploughed up about an acre and a 

 half, and the next spring planted with potatoes. The next 

 season I planted the same with corn, manuring with compost 

 in the hill, and had about forty bushels to the acre, which was 

 probably one-third less than would have been the case had it 

 not been for the injury caused by the wire worms. Last spring 



