73 



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. 



In 1870, " " " - - 



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



In 1872, for manure $64, for labor in harvesting $30, 



In 1873, for clover seed $2, «' '* " 30, 



In 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, Avhich 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. 



Committee — Henry Saltonstall, William C. Sleeper, A. M. 

 Bodwell, William Berry. 



