72 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



means, intelligence and energy, should have engaged so 

 earnestly in the solution of this problem. As he had, at the 

 time of our visit, conducted the business, in its present form, 

 only ten months, he could not be expected to exhibit his 

 balance-sheet. "When sufficient time has passed for the results 

 to assume a reliable form, it is to be hoped he will present them 

 to the public, as, in any event, they can hardly fail to be useful 

 as an example. 



The farm of H. N. Glover, Quincy, both in regard to the 

 condition and arrangements of the buildings, and the division 

 and cultivation of the land, presents a good example of order 

 and NEATNESS, those fundamental principles of good farming. 

 Mr. Glover invited us to look at a piece of marsh land, from which 

 he had shut out the sea by a substantial dike. Below the dike 

 are sluices, fitted with gates, which allow tlie water from the 

 reclaimed land to escape, but prevent the inward flow of the 

 tide. When the improvement of this land was commenced, it 

 was, in most respects, like ordinary salt marsh, and had been 

 so from the earliest account to be had of it ; yet it is filled with 

 stumps of various species of trees. No one has any knowledge 

 in regard to the time when these trees were standing ; but it is 

 evident that they grew when the ground was free from the 

 action of salt water. From the appearance of the surrounding 

 land, it seems probable that a high bar formerly protected the 

 marsh from the sea, but that by some unusual force the waves 

 broke through, destroyed the trees, and ciianged the general 

 character of the vegetation. Although this was done, perhaps, 

 hundreds of years ago, the roots of the trees imbedded in the 

 marsh are still perfectly sound. 



In the fall of 1859, Mr. Glover planted cranberries on a portion 

 of this reclaimed marsh. Of course, there has not been suffi- 

 cient time for the plants to establish tlicmselvcs. At present 

 there is nothing discouraging in their appearance, and the 

 public will be interested in the progress and result of this 

 attempt to convert a salt marsh into a cranberry meadow. 



On the farm of Lemuel Billings, Quincy, the committee saw a 

 six-acre field of corn which promised a large yield. Mr. Billings 

 has generally had marked success with this crop. The land is 



