WASTE LANDS. 185 



grows on land too moist for pasturing sheep, as they will do 

 much better on high land, even if it is rather dry and the feed 

 short. 



But there are many pastures, some of which are rough broken 

 land, and others of light sandy soil, which are of little value, 

 and cannot profitably be improved ; such may as well go for 

 wood. And it seems a subject worthy of consideration wlicther 

 white pines and other light kinds of wood may not be cultivated, 

 as the growth of light wood seems particularly adapted to light 

 soils. 



There has been no application for premium the present year 

 on improved pasture land. The committee, however, were 

 invited by Hiram P. Goodhue, of North Andover, to view a 

 piece of improved waste land ; and surely it was but little 

 income, according to his statement, but not very much unlike 

 many pastures in the county. The committee visited it on the 

 29th of June. The grass was nearly fit to cut. Some of the 

 land is dry, gravelly knolls ; consequently the grass was rather 

 light, — much better, however, than it would have been had tlie 

 season been dry. On the better part of the land the grass was 

 good ; and in the opinion of the committee, Mr. Goodhue has 

 not overestimated the quantity of his crop of hay. His apple 

 trees look well, and with continued care and attention they will, 

 no doubt, prove a profitable investment, as trees on such land 

 will do much better than those on land that has long been under 

 cultivation. The committee would recommend that Mr. Good- 

 hue receive the society's second premium of ten dollars. 



July 6th, the committee had the satisfaction of viewing an 

 improved tract of land owned by Benjamin Kimball, of Haver- 

 hill. Mr. Kimball did not ask for a premium, and declined 

 giving a written statement, but cheerfully gave the committee a 

 verbal statement of his course of management, which was to 

 them quite interesting. The land is situated on an elevation 

 or hill in the northerly part of Haverhill, near the line of Atkin- 

 son, N. H., and was formerly known as parsonage land. He 

 had at that time a beautiful field of grass, containing about ten 

 acres, which was nearly fit for the scythe. We say beautiful, 

 for what is more beautiful and fragrant than a field of grass, 

 with a large mixture of clover, when in full blossom. The com- 

 mittee have since been informed that the crop of hay when cut 



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