IMPROVING WET MEADOWS. 59 



IMPKOVIKG "WET MEADOWS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Meadow land, where the mud is deep and thoroughly 

 drained, is liable to suffer from drought like other land, and 

 your Committee were of the opinion that, in some cases, such 

 meadows might be benefited by damming the water at certain 

 seasons of the year, at the outlet of the ditch, and retaining 

 such an amount of water in the ditch as may be necessary to 

 keep the land moist, or to some extent guard against drought. 



Meadows require some dressing from the upland in shape 

 of sand, gravel, loam, or something of the kind. Most per- 

 sons use such material as may be nearest at hand, or can be 

 used with least .expense, and if a person is successful, he is 

 apt to think that the material he used is the best, hence there 

 are different opinions on the subject. Sand can be used with 

 considerable less expense than gravel, as it is much easier 

 shovelled. I have been informed by those who have used 

 both sand and gravel on the same meadow, that gravel is 

 decidedly the best. For myself, I have had considerable 

 experience in cultivating meadow land, but never used sand, 

 as I had access to none within a reasonable distance. I should 

 recommend, however, that persons who have access to differ- 

 ent material, try the experiment and judge for themselves. 



It is an old saying that experience is the best schoolmaster. 

 The writer therefore proposes giving some of his own expe- 

 rience in cultivating meadow land, believing that he has had 

 longer experience than most others, although it may not be 

 so instructive. 



Fifty years ago my father had a few acres of meadow land 

 in the central part of his farm, adjoining the road and near 

 his buildings, which he considered of but little value, as it 



