114 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



I upturned them. After remaining a sufficient time to become 

 dry so as to be moved, we hauled them to the upland, and 

 there were judged to be thirty cords, worth something for fuel 

 or to be made into coal. We then filled up the holes and 

 smoothed oflf the top and burnt what could not be disposed of 

 in the holes. 



In June, 1850, I sowed the meadow with oats, herds grass, 

 red-top and clover seed, at an expense of five dollars. The 

 oats were mowed in August for fodder, and when well hayed 

 were thought to be three and a half tons, worth $12 per ton. 

 In July 1851, I cut upon this meadow four tons of hay, as 

 estimated, worth $12 per ton, and now there is on it a very 

 good crop of fall feed. 



Lincoln, Sept. 5, 1851. 



Francis A. Wheeler's Statement. 



In 1846, I began to reclaim the meadow, which I offer for 

 premium. After haying, I dug a ditch on three sides of it, to 

 let off the cold spring water, and I also cut up the largest has- 

 socks upon it. Then late in the fall I borrowed a meadow 

 plough and ropes, and struck in on the farther side, ploughing 

 to the depth of twelve or fourteen inches, the oxen being some 

 ten or fifteen rods from the plough and on hard ground. After 

 coming out to the end of the furrow, the plough was drawn 

 back, and the cattle again started, and in this way we turned 

 over an acre as well as we could. 



In the spring of 1847, I went on with hoes and filled up the 

 holes, so that I could go on with my horse and rackets to 

 harrow ; then planted potatoes. From less than an acre of 

 this bog, I raised a crop which sold for $150, besides reserving 

 enough to pay for all the manure that was applied. I was so 

 encouraged by this success, that I turned over more than an 

 acre in the same way that fall, and in the spring managed it as 

 I did the first piece. The yield of potatoes was again great, 

 but they were lost by the rot. In the fall harrowed it down, 

 and in the winter carted on about sixty loads of gravel to the 

 acre. 



In the spring of 1849, I took the mare and rackets, and 



