RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 45 



for the conveyance of the surplus water are to be constructed, 

 and so far as practicable, covered, the better to increase the 

 surface for cultivation, and to remove the awkwardness of the 

 excavations on the surface. This is particularly the case with 

 ditches or drains for the shore springs, and cross ditches or 

 drains running to the drains in the centre of the meadow or 

 swamp operated on. 



Drains laid with tile, made for this purpose, from two to four 

 inches in diameter, at a cost of about four cents a foot, have 

 come to the knowledge of the chairman, greatly improving the 

 grounds on which they are laid. Without question, many par- 

 cels of what are generally denominated cold, spring land, would 

 be doubled in value by properly laying one hundred rods of 

 such drains to the acre. This mode of improvement has hither- 

 to been but little regarded by Massachusetts farmers. It is 

 coming much into use in Western New York. 



As to the depth to which these ditches or drains should be 

 made, much will depend upon the depth of the mire and the 

 hardness of the bottom; generally three feet will be found 

 quite sufficient to let off the water, if the meadow has ordinary 

 slope or descent. There are few meadows that have not some 

 avenue for draining that can be opened near at hand. Nature, 

 when she built the one, took care to provide the other. There 

 are few " dismal swamps," or " sloughs of despond," about the 

 farms of New England. 



Another consideration, in undertaking an operation of this 

 kind is, how far is it expedient to carry gravel or other materials 

 from the upland upon the surface of the meadow ? Just so far, 

 we should say, as may be necessary to give the surface, after 

 the water is drained off, an operative firmness for sustaining 

 the crops, and no further. We do not hold to expending twice 

 as much, in covering the meadow, as it will be worth after it is 

 covered ; but would have all the operations in the process con- 

 ducted with an economy that will pay ; at the same time with 

 a thoroughness that shall forever remove the meadow character 

 from the land. We are particular to notice this, because we 

 have more than once seen meadows pretended to be reclaimed, 

 that would not stay reclaimed. 



In our observations upon this class of lands, we have repeat- 



