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ble fact that 4 bbls. of ground bone costing] only $20.70 

 should produce three such heavy crops of hay. 



Witliout any hesitation you committee recommend the award 

 of the first premium of $15. to Mr. Green. 



For the encouragement of those owning lands adjoining, of 

 the same kind of which there are hundreds of acres, the com- 

 mittee expressed an opinion that these lands could be diked 

 and made the most productive of any in the county. Mr. 

 W. H. B. Currier, editor of the Villager, is of the same opinion, 

 and has so expressed his views in his paper in times past. 

 Mr. Currier expressed much satisfaction that your committee 

 had taken notice of this experiment in that part of the county 

 and hoped it would stimulate others to do something for the 

 agricultural cause. 



We have also examined the land entered for premium by 

 J. J. H. Gregory, and at first thought it would come under the 

 head of reclaimed waste or pasture lands, ratlier than luet 

 meadow or swamp, but as this land was drained (having an ex- 

 cess of water) we concluded to call it waste swamp. 



Your chairman has known this land more than forty years 

 arid at no time, till owned by Mr. Gregory, have we seen upon 

 it a crop hardly worth gathering, although it has been in the 

 possession of one or mare of our best farmers. 



The land is situated in front of where once stood the house 

 of Deacon Edward Putnam of witchcraft notoriety and was 

 owned by him. From 1692 till in possession of the present 

 owner, we doubt if any of its numerous possessors have ever 

 realized much profit from it. 



The committee met November 3d, which was thought to be 

 rather late in the season, the most favorable time being while 

 the crop is standing, but the stubble indicated all that Mr. 

 Gregory claims for it. Those of the committee present were 

 William C. Sleeper, 'Methuen, John L. Colcord, Feabody, and 

 David Stiles, Middleton, who unanimously recommended the, 

 second premium of ten dollars. 



Mr. Gregory's statement came to hand Oct. 28th, 1880. 



David Stiles, Chairman. 



