RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 71 



themselves to bring them into a state of productiveness and 

 value. 



Your committee have awarded to Mr. Orange Smith, of 

 Egremont, the first premium of $15, for the greatest improve- 

 ment on five acres of wet, swampy, unproductive land, by bring- 

 ing the same into a state of productiveness. 



Mr. Smith's improvement embraces between seven and eight 

 acres in quantity. This land, was, on our first view, wholly 

 unproductive. From his representations, after he had drained 

 the land and cut off the brush and bogs, and dug and carried off 

 the stumps and roots, the remainder of the work was mainly 

 done with the plough and harrow. The amount expended, 

 including board of workmen, grass and other seeds sown, 



about $200 00 



The amount of the value of crops taken off the 

 same land up to this time, exclusive of a crop 

 of buckwheat, now on a part of said land, 

 which is unpromising owing to the season, 

 amounts to about $75 00 



$125 00 

 Leaving a balance against him of $125, or about sixteen dol- 

 lars the acre. The land is now seeded to grass, and bids fair 

 to be productive in future. 



"We further award to Frederick F. Cooper, of Sheffield, for 

 the greatest improvement on three acres of such land, the sum 

 of $10. 



This is a part of a swamp of thirty acres, which Mr. Cooper 

 has now under process of reclaiming, which, after cutting off 

 the bogs and draining, was mainly performed by the plough and 

 harrow, \ 



The expense, as rendered by Mr. Cooper to us, 



including grass, and other seed, is . . $50 90 



The crops taken from the land within three 

 years, he estimates at 64 00 



$13 10 

 Leaving a balance of $13.10 in his favor, after paying all 

 expenses. 



