58 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



In 1851 I sold to my brother about thirteen acres for $600, 

 and twenty acres left, which is all bog. 



Carlisle, September, 1853. 



WORCESTER. 



Statement of T. $f I. S. Meriam. 



We have two methods of reclaiming our swamp lands. One 

 is to plant potatoes, and cnltivate the swamp in this way for 

 two or three years until the old turf is fully rotted — using 

 care to take all roots and stumps out, so as to be able to leave 

 a smooth surface at the time of seeding, which is usually done 

 in the fall as soon as we can get the crop of potatoes off. 

 The other is to cart or sled on gravel in the winter when the 

 swamp is frozen enough to bear up a team ; we have about five 

 acres reclaimed in this way, and two reclaimed in the other 

 manner. But as we did not call the attention of the commit- 

 tee to but two pieces of improved swamp, we shall confine our- 

 selves to them. They contain about one and half acres each. 



The lot which we shall call No. 1, was covered over with gravel 

 in the winter of 1 845, about five inches thick, spread at the 

 time of carting ; there being but little snow at the time, we 

 could spread it even. We seeded with herds-grass and redtop 

 the last of March following, using one peck and a half herds- 

 grass, and half a bushel of redtop to the acre. The first sea- 

 son, we had but little hay, but it was very thick. In 1849 we 

 applied about six loads of compost manure to the acre, and 

 have cut about two and a half tons of hay to the acre every 

 year since 1847. Cost of gravelling was forty-four days' work 

 for one man and one yoke of oxen, in the short days of winter, 

 and after taking care of a stock of cattle ; we think that fifty 

 cents a day for man, and the same for oxen, a fair price, so that 

 the expense was but $44 for the one acre and a half. 



Lot No. 2, contains one acre and a half, that has been planted 

 three years with potatoes. In February, 1849, we sledded on 

 twenty loads of manure from under the stable — it was frozen 

 at the time, and we think it would not have been over fifteen 

 cart loads, such as we usually get out in the spring. This 

 piece had been mowed the year before, although we got the 



