RECLAIMED MEADOWS. G9 



and then harrow it thoroughly ; after that sow to herds grass, 

 clover, aud red-top seed. The latter part of August is consid- 

 ered the best time for seeding; but it will do very well later 

 in the season." 



Joseph Smith. 



Statement of Samuel Powers. 



My piece of reclaimed swamp contains five acres, and it is 

 situated on the county road, leading from Hadlcy to Amherst, 

 at the foot of the hill, about half a mile from the former place. 



Iu 1837 I became the owner of the above land in connection 

 with twenty acres, a part of which was improved land, and 

 worth what the whole cost, leaving the portion I am about to 

 offer for consideration, in its then condition, of little or no 

 value. This worthless part first engaged my attention. Its 

 soil is of that peculiar kind called peat, and is the product of 

 accumulated vegetable matter. I resolved, if it were a practi- 

 cable thing, to put it in a fit condition for cultivation ; and, on 

 taking its water level, I found that in a distance of sixty rods 

 there was a fall of about two feet. This fact encouraged me 

 to make the attempt to free it entirely of water. I cut a ditch, 

 three feet in depth, at the foot of the hill, which carried off the 

 water which the springs gushing from the hill sent forth. In 

 addition to this, other ditches of equal dimensions were dug, 

 encircling the entire piece, and one also through the centre. 

 These ditches cleared the swamp of water. After the land 

 had remained in this condition one year I proceeded to plough 

 it with a team consisting of three yokes of oxen, attended by 

 three stout men to guide the plough and turn the furrows. 

 Three days were consumed in ploughing one acre, at an expense 

 of twelve dollars. But the work was effectually done, the 

 heavy swamp sods being turned over and buried eighteen 

 inches deep after clearing the surface of the many roots and logs 

 scattered over it. A drag and heavy cultivator were next 

 applied, which gave the swamp before rough a smooth and level 

 surface. The following spring, a smaller plough, drawn by a 

 pair of horses, turned over the surface, not disturbing the thick 

 turf covered over the year before. I first planted to potatoes, 



