102 :irASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Mr, Bradley's mode of operating, was to cut with axes the 

 surface of the meadow into strips about a foot wide, and then to 

 follow with heavy picks, rolling up the strip with all it contained ; 

 thus peeling the whole meadow of its surface, not excepting 

 even the stumps. When the fire had reduced all this amount 

 of rubbish to ashes, there was left for cultivation a new surface 

 of the richest material, free from all obstructions. 



It will be seen by the statement, that while the shallow part 

 was ploughed with oxen, (at the close of last November,) the 

 deep part was ploughed with a horse. In answer to our inquiries 

 on this point, Mr. Bradley showed us some fixtures answering 

 somewhat the same purpose as snow-shoes, which were securely 

 strapped on to each foot of the horse, enabling him to draw 

 heavily, where oxen, at that time, would have sunk into the soft 

 soil. 



As we walked over the dry soil, covered with a most luxuri- 

 ant crop, it really seemed almost fabulous, that so recently it 

 could have been the tliick, tangled, wooded morass — ten cords 

 per acre — that it was described to be, and just such as we saw 

 on the other side of the fence. 



It will be seen that the whole was accomplished by manual 

 lal)or. Ordinarily this mode of operating might have proved 

 too expensive. But Mr. Bradley showed his tact by striking at 

 the right time ; thus benefiting the laborers, by giving them 

 employment when they were suffering for want of it, and accom- 

 plishing a difiicult undertaking when the low price of labor 

 actually left a large margin for profit. Mr. Bradley estimates 

 the whole expense at seventy-five dollars per acre. 



If we may be excused for stepping aside from our specific 

 duty, we would state, that as we passed through Mr. Bradley's 

 premises, we were much pleased with his singularly judicious 

 arrangements for making manure. The rich muck from his 

 meadow in a dry state, is carted less than one-eighth of a mile 

 up an ascent so easy, that a pair of oxen could draw a cart full. 

 It is thrown into his slaughter yard, and mixed with the offal of 

 a large butchering establishment, absorbing the eflluvia so 

 entirely as to prevent all unpleasant smell. It is then removed 

 to form a bank, protected from the wind and sun by a high close 

 board fence on one side, and a row of shade trees overhanging. 

 His men were tlien shovellin": over more than two hundred 



