86 ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



land for several years, we are satisfied, from a careful examina- 

 tion, of the correctness of his statement in all particulars. And 

 we would not omit to mention his worthy example of enter- 

 prise, industry and perseverance. 



TEMPLE CUTLER, Chairman. 



Leverett Bradley's Statement. 



I offer for premium a meadow, containing about 30 acres. 

 The soil is inclining to peat, and varies from 2 to 10 feet in 

 depth. On some parts of it, 3 or 4 feet below the surface, logs 

 abound. Previous to the year 1842, the produce of the open 

 part of it was a coarse meadow grass. About one third part of 

 it was covered with bushes, and, during the entire year, except, 

 perhaps, a very short time in summer, water stood upon the 

 whole of it. 



In the year 1842, I commenced my improvements. Between 

 that year and the year 1846, I have dug upwards of 1000 rods 

 of ditches. My main ditch is about 100 rods in length, 5| feet 

 wide at the surface, and, through its whole length, dug to the 

 hard pan at bottom. The other ditches average 2\ or 3 feet in 

 width at the surface ; all dug to the pan. The clearings of the 

 ditches furnish the best material for compost, and, without any 

 admixture, make a very good top-dressing. About 5 acres of 

 the meadow was ploughed and seeded without any gravel 

 spread upon the surface. The remaining 2.5 acres were not 

 ploughed, but gravel was spread on the surface to the depth of 

 about 3 inches. My estimate of the cost of the land — includ- 

 ing its original value, cost of labor and seed — is $100 per acre 

 — I mean its original value and the cost of all improvement. 



The first year, I have usually cut about half a ton per acre. 

 The second year, I top-dress with about 10 carts full to the 

 acre of a compost, the principal ingredient of which is sand. 

 The second year, I have cut, generally, 2\ tons per acre. I 

 think it better to top-dress, as above stated, once in two years. 



This season, the crop, as the committee observed before it was 

 cut, averaged 2\ tons to the acre. 



Methuen, October 23c?, 1848. 



