62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



there would be no hail nor tornado at the time of the rain, nor 

 intermediate ; that there would be no destructive floods nor 

 injuriously low waters ; that there would be no oppressively 

 hot nor injuriously cold weather ; that the farmers and mari- 

 ners would always know, in advance, when the rains would 

 commence, or nearly so, and when they would terminate ; that 

 all epidemic diseases originating from floods and droughts 

 would cease ; that the proceeds of agriculture would be greatly 

 increased, and the health and happiness of the citizens much 

 promoted." 



As it is not probable that an appropriation will be made 

 sufficient to secure the success of the experiment, or that the 



inhabitants of Berkshire will burn over their mountains for 



* 



the sake of watering the eastern parts of the State in dry 

 weather, it will be necessary to confine our attention to some- 

 what more practicable methods of guarding against the effects 

 of droughts. The importance of adopting them will be appar- 

 ent to all. 



The first and simplest is, to reclaim and cultivate low lands. 

 The amount of swamp lands reclaimed every year in this State 

 is sufficient evidence that both the practicability and the profit 

 of this means are well appreciated. Eminent success has at- 

 tended every experiment of the kind which has come under my 

 observation ; and the statements made to agricultural socie- 

 ties abundantly show that these lands, when properly treated, 

 pay a large percentage of profit, larger, indeed, than any other 

 part of the farm. No encouragement is needed to induce the 

 intelligent farmer to engage in this enterprise. It tells its own 

 story in redoubled crops. The methods of reclaiming are so 

 well stated in the returns made to the Board every year that 

 it would be unnecessary to dwell upon them here, even if it 

 came within the range of this report. It is enough to say that 

 some methods speedily repay all advances made on them, while 

 others require a considerable expenditure, and make no return, 

 or comparatively little, for two or three years. The compound 

 interest which such improvements often pay at the end of that 

 time should, perhaps, satisfy any reasonable expectation; but 

 most men prefer to invest where they can get a speedy divi- 

 dend. 



