50 



the case with improved lands. His system is to make his land 

 better each year, and we wish all who have any doubts as to the 

 profits of that plan, and all Avho think their farms cannot be so 

 managed would go and see Mr. Sias, and their eyes will be 

 opened. 



Below will be found the statement of John Sias, and we cheer- 

 fully award him the first premium of eight dollars. 



For the Committee, 



M. B. INCHES, Chairman. 

 . Dedham, Dec. 1, 1860. 



STATEMENT OF JOHN SIAS. 



Gentlemen: — The lot of land which I offer for a premium 

 contains about three acres, covered partly with red cedars and 

 small bushes and was very rocky and stony. One great object 

 in attempting to reclaim it was to obtain the small stones to bed a 

 road which I contemplated making, and which I could not obtain 

 so easily from any other place ; it had never been used except as a 

 pasture, and had never been ploughed. 



In the spring of 1859 I cut the wood and bushes from two 

 acres, ploughed it, dug and carted off" a part of the rocks and 

 stones, burnt the bushes, carted on about six cords of manure and 

 planted with corn, potatoes and cabbage ; the ground was rough, 

 and it was rather a poor crop. 



In the fall of 1859 the other acre was cleared, the bushes were 

 burnt and the ashes spread over the ground and ploughed in, the 

 stones were carted off, in part, and in the spring of 1860 it was 

 cross ploughed, the roots dug up and burnt and the ashes spread 

 over the lot, then manured with five cords of manure, and plant- 

 ed with corn. 



The two acre lot was planted the present year, after spreading 

 about eight and a half cords of manure, with peas, pickles, sweet 

 corn and cabbage, with ruta baga as a second crop after the 

 peas. We have kept no particular account of the work done 

 upon the piece in carting off the small stones, but some idea of 

 the quantity may be formed when I state that a road has been 

 bedded with them nearly forty rods long, twelve feet wide, and one 

 and a half feet deep. A well twenty-five feet deep was stoned 

 with them, and the backing for a cellar wall one hundred and thirty 

 feet long and equal to one foot by one and a half deep and wide. 

 Also a trench for a wall across the lot, and for under-draining 

 about twenty-two rods long and two and a half feet deep and 

 wide ; and in addition to the above, a man, with a yoke of oxen 

 carted three days, and a considerable quantity are yet left upon 

 the ground. No charge has been made for any of the above work, 



