366 



shares are ground to a sharp edge. It cuts the turf in strips 

 without turning them over ; and they are then cut crosswise 

 with a knife and inverted. 



Mr. Fay's plan of cultivating the banks of his ditches is, on 

 some accounts, not to be approved. Leaving the mud thrown 

 out of the ditch upon the edge, increases the danger of their 

 caving in. Mr. Moore's (of Concord) plan of excavating his 

 ditches will, I hope, attract the particular attention of farmers. 

 Mr Fay — and many other of the excellent farmers of Marlboro' 

 agree with him — is of the opinion that the first crop in these cases 

 usually pays for the cost of the improvement. They agree, 

 likewise, in pronouncing loam and manure in compost the best 

 dressing ; and that gravel is to be avoided. 



9. This subject of reclaiming meadow is of so much import- 

 ance, that I shall ofler no apology for giving in detail the prac- 

 tices of many of our best farmers. I now add the views of 

 Wm. Buckminster, of Framingham, Editor of the Massachu- 

 setts Ploughman, published in Boston, to whose agricultural in- 

 telligence and enterprise, and likewise mechanical ingenuity, 

 the farmers of the county and State are much indebted. 



" We were not long in discovering that we could raise good 

 English grass on all peat bottoms which could be drained. We 

 now consider all such land the most valuable we possess for 

 obtaining hay. We adopt various modes to subdue these bogs, 

 according to their condition and to the materials in the vicinity 

 suitable to be applied to the surface. Some of the bogs will 

 bear up a team, and we are able to subvert the surface-sod, by 

 means of a large plough with a sharp share and coulter. In 

 some cases, we use a paring plough which cuts the sod, and 

 leaves it in its place to bear up the team. After an acre has 

 been thus cut, the bog-hoes are made use of to cross-cut the 

 furrow and to subvert it. Loam, gravel, or sand is then carted 

 or wheeled on, covering the sods one inch or more in depth, 

 according as we judge necessary to make the surface even, and 

 to give it warmth. When a bank of loam, gravel, &c. is near 

 and the surface of the bog is even, we cover completely all the 



