ON RECLAIMED MEADOWS. 7^ 



John Porter, of Wenham, and one by Calvin Locke, of 

 Ipswich. Tliree of the Committee, — Messrs Osborn, Dole, 

 and Merriam, — visited these meadows the second week in Ju- 

 ly, before the grass was cut, although Dr. Porter had begun to 

 cut his. The meadow of Dr. Porter was situated within twen- 

 ty rods of his house, which made it very desirable to have 

 something better than litter growing upon the meadow. It 

 was in the form of a basin, surrounded by a bold, sandy, and 

 fine gravelly bank, very convenient for application to the 

 meadow, which could be and is effectually drained. The out- 

 lay which has been made upon this piece of meadow, appears 

 to us a judicious one, and one which will amply remunerate 

 the owner. The very accurate and explicit statement given 

 by Dr. Porter w^ill supersede any further remarks from us. He 

 suggests the importance of future attention, which is necessary 

 in all such boggy lands. The natural meadow grasses are in- 

 clined to spring up, without future dressings. The committee 

 would recommend that the first premium, (of tAventy dollars.) 

 be awarded to him. 



The piece of land offered by Mr. Locke is a low, flat swale, 

 consisting of a black sandy soil, with a natural growth, princi- 

 pally of the alder, a soil suited to that bush. The alder ]s per- 

 haps as easily subdued and extirpated as any bush we have to 

 contend with. After draining and cutting oiF the bushes, this 

 land could be worked upon with the oxen and plough. This 

 being the third crop of hay since the land was reclaimed, the 

 quality was probably not quite so good as in the other two 

 years ; some natural grasses were mixed with the English, al- 

 though there was a very good crop ready for the scythe. Mr. 

 Locke not being the owner of the soil, had leased it for twenty 

 years, and was so w^ell satisfied with his success that he had 

 already another portion of the swamp adjoining, in progress of 

 reclamation, being planted with potatoes and vines, which like- 

 wise promised well. It will be seen by Mr. Locke's statement 

 that the expense of subduing his land has been somewhat less 

 per acre than that of Dr. Porter's. We will take the liberty to 

 suggest to Mr. Locke that we think such soils as he is at work 

 upon will bear high manuring, and will make good returns for 

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