MEADOW AND SWAMP LAND. 107 



underground drain were dug three feet deep, and one and one- 

 half feet of small stone was laid in the bottom, then covered 

 with hemlock brush, then with dirt, at a cost of sixty cents per 

 rod. It was then broken up with a plough, the bogs being 

 turned over with a dung-hook. In the spring of 1864 it was 

 manured at the rate of twelve cords of manure to the acre, and 

 one acre was set with tobacco ; the remaining two and one-half 

 acres were planted with corn, using one spoonful of phosphate 

 in a hill. There was a fair growth of stalks, and about thirty 

 bushels of corn per acre. Yield of tobacco, one ton. 



In 1865 the entire three and one-half acres were set to 

 tobacco ; there was used twelve cords of manure to the acre ; 

 crop, 700 pounds. In 1866 there was sowed to oats one acre ; 

 raised sixty bushels. The remaining two and one-half acres 

 were set with tobacco, using twelve cords of barn-yard maniire 

 and 600 pounds of phosphate to the acre ; crop, 5,000 pounds. 

 In 1867 one acre was mowed ; the remaining two and one-half 

 acres were sowed to oats, and seeded with three pecks of Timothy 

 per acre. The crop of straw was very heavy ; oats, 160 bushels. 

 In 1868 there were mowed and carted off from the above three 

 and one-half acres eighteen ox-loads of hay, thirteen first crop 

 and five second crop, judged to weigh, cut, fifteen tons. The 

 said plat of land lies from one to two degrees to the west, is 

 rather loamy soil, a hardpan bottom. The sensation produced 

 by witnessing this productive meadow, so lately reclaimed from 

 a worthless bog or marsh, by Mr. Allis, cannot but be a source 

 of delight to all beholders, especially to the owner thereof, and 

 those whose tastes harmonize with such improvements, affording 

 the careful observer the best possible proof of the utility of 

 such improvements. 



It is no longer an experiment, but an admitted fact, that such 

 reclaimed lands are more productive, and yield a greater profit 

 than any other in proportion to the amount invested in improve- 

 ments ; and it is gratifying to observe the progress annually 

 made in this kind of improvement. Different local circum- 

 stances may require a somewhat different process to be adopted ; 

 but the Committee are satisfied, from their limited experience 

 and observation, that unless it be possible to drain such lands, 

 all attempts at reclamation are futile and visionary. The roots 

 of all plants are not insensible to the influences which are felt 



