RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 53 



Mark H. Davis's Statement. 



I submit for consideration my operations on one acre of 

 meadow land on the farm of Lewis Allen, in Danvers, that 

 has been under my care and improvement for three years last 

 past. 



Li July, 1850, I began to invert the sod by the use of a 

 plough, but the mud was so soft that the oxen could not stand 

 in the furrow. Consequently, I made use of a pair of wheels 

 that the oxen might travel on the sward, and then I cut the 

 furrows to the depth of ten or twelve inches. This meadow 

 has a peat bottom — some parts of it are so soft that I could 

 work only in the driest part of the season. In September, 

 1851, I put a coating of tanner's manure, in which were min- 

 gled hair and lime, on about half the lot, and sowed herds- 

 grass and redtop thereon. In July, 1852, this part, measuring 

 seventy rods, yielded one and three-quarters tons of hay, of 

 first rate quality, as estimated by those who saw it. 



In August, 1852, I prepared the remainder of the lot, by 

 applying barn and night manure ; the difference was observable 

 all the season — the appearance being much the best where the 

 barn and night manure were used. I have taken from the 

 ditches fifty cart loads of mud that I estimate to be worth 

 fifteen dollars, for upland dressing. The crop was injured the 

 present year, by the heavy fall of rain, about the 25th of May, 

 which caused the water to overflow and stand upon some parts 

 of the land, the effect of which was perceptible all through the 

 season. 



I have sold 4,310 pounds of hay from the land for 

 And have left what I estimate half a ton at . 



Making the entire product of 1853 to amount to 

 The product of the previous year was sold for 



Amount of product for two years .... $91 96 

 I estimate the expense incurred as follows : — 



Labor, $14 00 



Manure, . . . . . . 10 00 



