iliey are the more willing to be relieved of this duty, as by atl 

 unfortunate combination of circumstances in relation to the notices 

 of the entries, made by some of the claimants, their opportunities 

 for examination, wliile the crops were growing, were not so com- 

 plete as could have been desired. Their opinion, therefore, of 

 the comparative merits of the claims presented, are made substan- 

 tially from the statements submitted, of which, all who read them, 

 will have the opportunity of judging, as have the committee. 



A few general ideas seem to be essential to be regarded in re- 

 lation to lands of this description. 



First, the surplus water is to be removed, and completely re- 

 moved. While any of this remains, so far, at least, there will be 

 an effectual barrier to improvement. Ditches or drains for the 

 conveyance of the surplus water, are to be constructed, and so far 

 as practicable, covered, the better to increase the surface for 

 cultivation, and to remove the awkwardness of the excava- 

 tions, on the surface. This is particularly the case with ditches 

 or drains, for the shore springs, and cross ditches or drains run- 

 ning to the drains in the center of the meadow or swamp opera- 

 ted on. (vida page 71.) 



Drains laid with tide, made for this purpose, from two to four 

 inches in diameter, at a cost of about four cents a foot, have come 

 to the knowledge of the chairman, greatly improving the grounds 

 on which they are laid. Without question, many parcels of 

 what are generally denominated cold, spring land, would be doub- 

 led in value by properly laying one hundred rods of such drains 

 to the acre. This mode of improvement has hitherto been but 

 little regarded by IMassachusetts farmers. It is coming much in- 

 to use in wertern New York. 



As to the depth to which these ditches or drains should be 

 made, much will defend upon the depth of the mire and the 

 hardness of the bottom, — generally three feet will be found quite 

 sufficient to let off the water, if the meadow has ordinary slope 

 or descent. There are ^e\v meadows, that have not some avenue 

 for draining, that can be opened near at hand. Nature when 



