26 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



cost. Little Cedar Swamp was now considered worthless prop- 

 erty, or so nearly so that some plots of it were sold in 1860, for 

 five dollars per acre. It was so soft that cattle could not be 

 driven over it, and the small quantity of hay which it afforded 

 was removed to the upland by means of poles. The quality of 

 the grass was so inferior and the expense of securing it so great, 

 that much of it remained uncut from year to year. The tract 

 was also valueless for wood, as it had become so wet and stag- 

 nant that maples, the only wood upon it had made no visible 

 increase in size for many years. 



In 1861, operations were commenced which were destined to 

 make Little Cedar Swamp the most valuable tract of land in 

 town, and double the stock-keeping capacity of some of the 

 adjoining farms. Three commissioners were appointed by the 

 superior court of Massachusetts, to survey the tract and make 

 any necessary improvements. This commission opened five 

 hundred rods of ditch and improved the means of drainage so 

 as to make it possible for the owners of individual plots to 

 convey the surplus water from their land and make other 

 improvements at discretion. The expenses incurred by the 

 commission amounted to five hundred dollars, which sum was 

 assessed upon the proprietors, and collected according to the 

 laws for improving meadow and swamp land. 



The acre entered for premium lies at a considerable distance 

 from the upland. The muck varies from three to five feet in 

 depth. In the summer of 1864 this piece was burned over in 

 connection with land adjoining at an expense of one dollar. A 

 ditch three feet wide was opened on each side, connecting with 

 the principal drain, costing by contract, thirty-three and one- 

 third cents per rod. This ditch being equally advantageous to 

 the adjoining land, only one-half its cost is charged to this 

 experiment. Subsequent operations are in the form of a diary. 



June 3d, 1865, harrowed both ways, occupying man and team 

 one-half day. 



June 6th and 7th, burned again, requiring the attendance of 

 a man one day. 



June 10th, harrowed again both ways. 



June 13th, sowed three and one-half bushels oats and seven 

 quarts timothy, harrowed and bushed. 



August 8th, cut the oats for fodder. Four loads of 1,200 

 pounds each. 



