MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 147 



For the labor of three men, five days, - $15 00 

 Three yokes of oxen, - - - - 15 00 



Total, $30 00 



The first year after ploughing, it was planted to potatoes, 

 with a small quantity of manure — the second, without any 

 manure. It was sowed down in the month of September, and 

 yielded the present year, two tons of English hay to the acre, 

 which is the first crop of the same taken from it. 



Concord. 



Abel E. Bridge's Statement. 



In 1846, 1 purchased a tract of land in Lexington, containing 

 about nineteen acres, consisting of swamp, meadoAV, and up- 

 land ; that part of this tract which I requested you to examine, 

 is a piece of swamp land, containing four acres, from which a 

 growth of wood was taken five or six years since. In the 

 summer of 1848, 1 cut a ditch four feet wide around it, and in 

 August commenced clearing, it being filled with roots, stumps, 

 and underbrush. I cut around the stumps, and then with a 

 lever upturned them. After remaining a sufficient time to be- 

 come dry so as to burn freely, they were burnt, together with 

 the underbrush. On two acres, I carted twenty-five loads of 

 gravel in the winter, which was of no expense, as I was 

 obliged to remove the gravel in consequence of digging a cel- 

 lar. In April I sowed it down with herds-grass, red top and 

 clover-seed, at an expense of two dollars. I cut foiu: tons of 

 hay as per estimate in July, and there is considered to be one 

 ton to the acre at this time. 



Both crops valued at - - - - $60 00 

 Deduct seed, 2 00 



Balance, $58 00 



On the other two acres I planted potatoes, at the following 

 expense : — 



