6G MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Statement of Joshua Webster. 



The piece of swamp land inspected by you contains over ten 

 acres. The surface is peat mud ; the subsoil is a clean white 

 sand. It formerly had a thick growth of birch, alders, and 

 blueberry bushes. I commenced in 1851 to cut the birches 

 and alders into cord wood, and realized, net, about two hun- 

 dred dollars for the wood. I then commenced paring and 

 burning, filling the holes and low places with parings and small 

 bushes. I have planted most of it with corn and potatoes, and 

 have had rye on a part of it, which did not do very well, owing 

 to being sown too late. The corn and potatoes did very well, 

 particularly on parts where a small quantity of manure was 

 used. I consider the ditching very important, and should 

 probably have done better had I thoroughly ditched the whole 

 at the commencement, which I did not do. I have not kept an 

 exact account of the expense, but estimate that fifty dollars, 

 after deducting the crop, will cover the expense per acre. I 

 consider ploughing, where it is practicable, better than paring 

 and burning. 



Malden, September, 1854. 



Statement of William Buckminster. 



I have taken three harvests of hay from the meadow which 

 I enter for premium since I converted it to English mowing, 

 and have secured not less than two tons of merchantable hay 

 to. the acre. My mode of turning this cranberry bog into Eng- 

 lish mowing ground was, to cover all the wild grass and vines 

 with gravelly soil from the islands in it and the adjoining higher 

 ground, having first cut ditches, to drain it completely, as near- 

 ly four rods asunder as the lay of the land would permit. I 

 bury the whole matter on the surface without cutting; and I 

 do this in August, because the loam, &c., carted on, kills out 

 the wild growth more effectually at that season ; and when the 

 tops are completely buried, the old plants die much sooner than 

 they would if cut with a scythe. I hauled on fifteen ox cart- 

 loads per acre of compost manure, and sowed one peck per 



