72 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Wc furtlicr award to Mr. HaJTey Rojcc, of Sheffield, a pre- 

 mium of $5 for the greatest improvement of one acre of such 

 land. 



The improvement of Mr. Royce embraces about one and one- 

 half acres in quantity, on our view in 1850. The surface was 

 covered with a very thick growth of white-bush, coarse grasses 

 and brakes ; the soil a deep muck, and wholly unproductive ; 

 the water wholly taken off by draining. The manner of reclaim- 

 ing this piece of land, as given us by Mr. Royce, was by wholly 

 paring off the surface, throwing it into winrows and burning it 

 on the ground, and spreading the ashes over the land, and har- 

 rowing it over and sowing it to grass seed. This was all done 

 the last fall, or in 1852, and he has cut a crop of hay from the 

 land this season, of one ton to the acre. It is now in good 

 turf, and bids fair to be very productive, more thoroughly 

 reclaimed, to appearance, than any piece we have viewed. 



The expense of ditching, cutting, pulling and 

 burning the white-bush, &c., including grass 

 seed, is . $25 62 



Crop taken off this season estimated at . . 7 50 



$18 12 

 Leaving a balance of $18.12 against him, or $12.08 the acre. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



Ralph Taylok, Chairman. 



BARNSTABLE. 



James G. Hallefs Statement. 



The piece of reclaimed meadow which I present for premium, 

 is the upper part of about five acres, which I diked in three 

 years since, which at that time did not produce half a ton of 

 any kind of hay. The manner of treatment has been as fol- 

 lows : — the first year it was ploughed and planted with potatoes, 

 and the next spring put down to grass. On the outside of my 

 barn I have a vat forty feet long, eight feet wide, and four and 

 a half feet deep, which is water tight and receives all the urine 

 and liquid excrements from the cattle, which are stalled every 



