178 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



whicli is susceptible of being converted to the highest state of 

 fertility, perhaps no field in which the society can labor offers 

 such inducements as this, to press the sul)jcct by every means 

 within its reach. 



If two-thirds only of these comparatively worthless lands 

 should be reclaimed and made to produce crops equal to the 

 most fertile lands, as in some instances they have already done, 

 thousands of dollars would be added to the value of the arable 

 land of the county. What greater results could the society 

 effect by any of its operations ? 



To bring about so desirable an end, and one which would 

 contribute so materially to the resources of the county, it is sug- 

 gested that the society offer premiums worthy of the magnitude 

 of the subject ; for the thorough draining and reclaiming of five, 

 ten, fifteen, or twenty acres, to l)e approved by a committee, 

 (who will attend to their duty,) within five years."* 



JosiAH Newhall, Chairman. 



Statement of Oliver P. Killam. 



Tlie whole meadow of which I have reclaimed a part, contains 

 about five acres. In 1849, I dug an outlet to the same at an 

 expense of five dollars, with intent to ditch, but the land being 

 so wet I found it utterly impossible. In 1850 I cleared the 

 bushes, which were very thick and heavy on parts of it, at an 

 expense of fifteen dollars ; it being so wet this year it was useless 

 to attempt to ditch. In 1851, it being somewhat dry, I com- 

 menced ditching out a main ditch the whole length through the 

 centre, four feet wide, also a sliore ditch to stop tlie cattle, four 

 feet wide, which worked to my satisfaction, and drained tlie 

 water off so thoroughly it gave me courage to proceed. Tlie 

 whole expense of draining was twenty dollars. 



In 1852 I topped about two acres, at an expense of forty dol- 

 lars. The expense of burning the toppings on the two acres 

 was twenty dollars. The expense of gravelling the two acres 

 was ten dollars ; spreading gravel and ashes, and seeding, four 

 dollars. The whole expense before topping, per acre, was eight 

 dollars. The expense of topping, fixing under-drains, burning, 

 gravelling and seeding, per acre, on the two acres, was thirty- 

 seven dollars, making the whole expense for reclaiming the two 



