T08 



Cutting and harvesting Hay, - - - 75-00 



Total, - - 322.50 



Value of Maple Wood at $6.00 per cord, - 200.00 



" Pine " 3.00 " - - 50.00 



12 1-2 Tons Hay at $25.00 per ton, - - 312.50 



Total, - -. $562.50 



Net Profit, $240.00. 



Total Net Profit on the Six Acres, - $466.00 



The Committee saw enough to enable them to judge that the 

 crops were not over estimated ; but for the amount of work 

 which must have been done they think Mr. Dane's estimate of 

 cost is too low. Mr. Dane kept no account at the time, not ex- 

 pecting to enter his land for premium, and he depends much on 

 memory for the details. He states however that a large part of 

 the labor was done in the winter, and at very cheap rates. But 

 the excess of profit shown by the above statement is large 

 enough to cover a much higher estimate of cost, and even if we 

 should allow the expenses to be as great as the return, which 

 cannot possibly be the case, the increased value of the land, and 

 the removal of the former offensive and unwholesome exhala- 

 tions are sufficient to make the work remunerative. 



The Committee however cannot withold their belief that open 

 ditches, such as Mr. Dane has dug, are the poorest way of drain- 

 ing wet lands. They soon become obstructed by the caving in 

 of the soil and the accumulation of vegetable matter, so as to 

 prevent the free passage of the water, and the work has to be 

 done over again, or the land and crops relapse into the poor and 

 valueless condition from which they were temporarily reclaimed. 

 Good, permanent work is almost always the cheapest in the end, 

 and a drain of tile or stones properly laid will far outlast the 

 open ditches, be more effective, allow the passage of teams, 



