FARM IMPROVEMENTS. 59 



second crop was standing, which the Committee saw, and 

 which has since proved to be fully one and a half tons of hay 

 per acre. 



In 1868, Mr. Bodwell could keep but one horse all the time, 

 and another about half the time. Last year he kept three 

 cows, two horses all and one horse half the time, and sold 

 four tons of hay ; the increased product being largely from 

 this reclaimed piece of land. 



The cost of the improvement has been, — 



In 1869, for labor and use of oxen, 

 1870, " " " . 



1871 (labor paid by crop), for grass-seed, 



1872, for manure $64, for labor in harvesting 



1873, for clover-seed $2, " " " 



1874, for labor in harvesting, . 



$427 25 



The return has been twenty-three tons of hay in the barn, 

 at $25 per ton — $575. Thus the improvement has consider- 

 ably more than paid for itself, without reckoning the differ- 

 ence in the value of the land, which before draining gave 

 nothing, and for the last three years has yielded an average 

 of nearly eight tons of hay a year. 



The Committee have carefully examined the details of cost 

 in the above statement, and are satisfied with its correctness. 

 Those who had seen the out-turn of hay testified that the yield 

 had not been overstated. 



They give Mr. Bodwell credit for a good deal of pluck in 

 attacking as hard a piece of land of the kind as could prob- 

 ably be found in the county, and for energy and good man- 

 agement in persevering until the work was done ; and looking 

 at the example and the result, they are unanimously of the 

 opinion that he is entitled to the first premium of $15. 



They commend the experiment to the notice of the owners 

 of the large quantities of wet meadow and swamp land in 

 the county, believing that, when reclaimed, under fair condi- 

 tions and good management, the result never has failed, and 

 never will fail, to be very profitable. 



Henry SaltonstalLj/o?* the Committee. 



