lOG MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



his memorandum-book, which give information very valuable 

 to others who may contemplate making similar improvements. 

 In May, 1859, he purchased a lot of land of about eleven 

 acres, situated quite near the village, a large proportion of 

 which was swamp without any drainage. It was covered with 

 oak, maple, birches, and dense underbrush, some of the trees 

 being quite large. The surface was very uneven, and alto- 

 gether it was a very discouraging-looking place. The following 

 winter, for the purpose of making employment in the open air 

 to improve his health, rather than with the expectation of making 

 it pay, he commenced clearing off the trees and underbrush, 

 and cutting a ditch through the whole length of the swamp. 

 A hook was placed under the roots of bushes, by which means 

 a yoke of oxen was able to draw out many. For taking out 

 the stumps, a stump-puller, manufactured by Mr. Caleb Bates, 

 of Kingston, was found to be very efficient, although the force 

 employed was only three men. Without this machine, he 

 thinks he should have despaired and given up the larger 

 stumi)s ; with it, every one came out, some of the largest 

 measuring one and a half feet in diameter. The stones were 

 also removed. When the underbrush and roots were dried, they 

 were gathered into heaps and burned. When about one and a 

 half acres were thus cleared, the ashes were scattered as 

 evenly as possible, and a slight dressing of compost added, the 

 whole surface having previously been dug over with a grub-hoe. 

 After harrowing, the land remained undisturbed till spring. 

 In April, it was seeded down to grass, and two tons of good 

 hay were cut in July, and a large second crop in September. 

 At different times, other portions of the swamp were cleared off 

 in the same manner, to the amount of about three acres, at a 

 cost of one hundred and twenty dollars per acre. In addition 

 to this, about two acres were cleared by the job, at a cost of 

 fifty cents per square rod, making the whole cost per acre about 

 one hundred dollars. The whole is now covered with grass, 

 and has no appearance of having recently been a swamp. 



As Mr. Perkins had had no experience whatever in this kind 

 of work, he labored under many disadvantages, and he is now 

 aware that he could do the same work again at a much less cost. 

 Expensive, however, as it has been, good judges who have seen 

 the land think it will pay, as it is probable that, with a reason- 



