52 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



side of tlie ditcli witli turf, muck and loam, taken from the lot 

 adjoining where Lowell Street has since been graded. The 

 turf was cut by sharp spades, taken in barrows and placed 

 bottom up, directly upon the top of the meadow. The loose 

 earth left in taking up the turf, was then spread over the top 

 of this turf, and made level with a hoe. This done, the labor 

 of reclaiming was completed for the time being. In this con- 

 dition, with no manure, and without ploughing or spading, 

 the ground was planted last spring. It has produced good 

 corn, peas, beans turnips, ruta-bagas, cabbages, carrots, pars- 

 nips, &c. Indeed, every thing has grown luxuriantly, except 

 the onion ; the potato grew finely until the rust put a check 

 to it. 



The cost of covering is, perhaps, something greater than that 

 of clearing. But it is the best way, for the reason that what- 

 ever ammonia is found in wet land, as is this of mine, like the 

 cream upon a pan of milk, must be near the top. Hence, if we 

 remove the turf, the best portion is taken away. By putting 

 the top of one lot upon that of another, its natural productive- 

 ness must be increased. The effect of this mode of procedure, 

 is best told by the produce. The produce of the covered, com- 

 pared with that of the cleared portion of my ground, is at least 

 four to one. The covering process is quite effectual, in killing 

 the growth of most kinds of brush wood. The elder and sweet- 

 briar alone, have made their way through the turf, and coming 

 as they must through several inches of earth, they are easily 

 pulled out by the hand, or yield readily before the hoe. The 

 cost of covering an acre of ground to the depth of six inches, 

 when the run for the barrows is not over fifty feet, on an 

 average for the lot, cannot exceed fifty dollars. The covering 

 of my lot cost even less than this, as the weather was "freezing 

 cold," during most of the time it was being performed, and 

 each man made rapid work for the comfort of it. 



Mr. Stowell will carry to the fair, samples of the various 

 kinds of vegetables raised on the above patch of ground, during 

 the present year. Next year we shall cultivate with the aid of 

 manure, and with more system, apportioning to each vegetable 

 its proper limits. 



Lawrence, September 10, 1853. 



