375 



They have then made another ditch within the first, which 

 they have filled in with stones and then covered with the mud 

 thrown out as before ; and so have kept on until they have 

 reacfied the margin of the meadow. The bog then is com- 

 pletely underlaid with this bed of stones, which serves to drain 

 the land ; and the surface above the stones may be cultivated 

 or kept in grass as may be desired. This appears to be an ex- 

 pensive improvement, but the excellent crops soon repay the 

 cost, and furnish land of the most productive nature. 



16. Improvements of this kind of land have been made in some 

 other parts of the State by another process. In Hingham and 

 Abington, Plymouth county, in the case of individuals owning 

 large tan yards, they have, after draining these meadows as 

 well as the situation admitted of, covered them wiih spent tan of 

 hemlock bark from their tan pits, to the depth of six inches or 

 a foot; upon this they have spread a covering of mould or 

 loam and compost manure and then sowed grass seed freely. 

 These meadows liave produced most abundant crops of hay ; 

 and as the tan, where so much wet remains, is fast rotting, the 

 whole surface must presently become a deep and lasting bed of 

 rich vegetable matter. There has been in many places a diffi- 

 culty among tanners in disposing of their refuse tan. There 

 has been a prejudice against using it for manure. When ap- 

 plied in a crude state it is undoubtedly unfriendly to vegetation ; 

 but in a decayed and rotted state it is as beneficial in the soil 

 as any other thoroughly decomposed vegetable matter. This 

 use of it demonstrates its value. 



There is a large amount of this bog land in Middlesex coun- 

 ty, yet to be redeemed. The extensive and unsightly mead- 

 ows in Sudbury, which' might, if the draining of them were 

 practicable, be brought into fertile fields, must remain as they 

 are, as the damming up of the water-courses on account of the 

 mills below will prevent the reduction of the water. 



17. The reclaiming of these peat bogs and quagmires is un- 

 doubtedly the greatest improvement in the agriculture of Middle- 

 sex county ; but there are other improvements going on of much 



