SECRETARY'S REPORT. 25 



former years. Our bottom lands, in a good season, can be 

 depended upon for about two tons per acre ; but many of them 

 will yield three or four tons. This yield is obtained without 

 any extra care, the deposits from the overflow of the Housa- 

 tonic, being the chief manure used, with the exception of a 

 little plaster. From the best information I can gather, I should 

 set down the average yield of our whole meadow land to be 

 about one ton and a half per acre." 



Another from the same county writes : — " The average yield 

 of English hay, is one ton and a quarter per acre. Proba- 

 bly 25 per cent, increase from improved cultivation, within 

 the last ten or fifteen years. Several swamps have been 

 converted into excellent meadows." 



Another in Franklin County says : — " The average yield is 

 one ton and a half to the acre. Some of the best mowing land 

 produces four tons to the acre. The increase in fifteen years 

 is about one-third." 



Another practical farmer in Hampshire County, says : — 

 " Considerable attention is paid to reclaiming swamps for 

 mowing, which has greatly increased the amount of hay upon 

 some farms. Within sight of where I am now sitting, there is 

 a tract of land, which, six years ago, bore nothing but brakes 

 and whortleberries, and which, by draining and ploughing, and 

 the addition of but little manure, now produces two loads of 

 good hay to the acre, and has paid its way during the process 

 of reclaiming, which we cannot always expect. There are 

 hundreds of acres in the State, which would do the same." 



In Worcester County : — " Average about one ton and a quar- 

 ter. A gradual increase per acre from year to year, for the 

 last ten or fifteen years. From 1843 to 1853, probably one- 

 eighth, or 12|^ per cent, increase." 



Another writer in the same county, says : — " With many of 

 our farmers, the average yield per acre would be from thirty 

 to forty hundred. The average, throughout the town, would 

 not be more than twenty hundred if it exceeded fifteen hun- 

 dred. 



" Swamp lands have been greatly improved, within the last 

 five years. They are regarded as the most valuable for grass, 

 and are kept in a productive state, with the least expense. The 

 4 



