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with gravel from the adjoining knolls, from one to twelve 

 inches deep, according to position — making an average 

 coating of material from the upland of five or six inches in 

 depth. This was intermingled Avith the soil of the meadow, 

 as thoroughly as it could conveniently be done. 



In May 1851, the land was again dug over and smoothed 

 as far as practicable, and then planted with corn, in the 

 ordinary way, with a common dressing of manure placed 

 in the hill. The crop of corn was fair, being about fifty 

 bushels of sound corn to the acre. It was partially injured 

 by the frosts, the land being too cold for corn. After the 

 crop was taken off, the land was levelled and smoothed, 

 with the harrow and hoes. In March, 1852, it Avas sown with 

 herds-grass and red-top, just when moistened with a coating 

 of light snow. But the seed did not catch Avell, and the 

 growth that season was light. In the spring of 1853, the 

 grass started in a promising manner, and completely covered 

 the ground. No addition of fertilizing materials was applied. 

 It continued to grow luxuriantly, yielding an abundant crop 

 of excellent grass. On the three acres, we cut between nine 

 and ten tons of hay at the first mov/ing, and full three tons 

 at the second, being an average amount of four tons to the 

 acre, for the season, — the best hay product grown on the 

 farm. 



Some additional improvements have been made since, by 

 completing the arrangement of the ditches, so as effectually 

 to let off all the surplus water — which is novi^ drained to 

 about eighteen inches below the surface of the land — and 

 by arranging conduits, or fluid conductors, from the back- 

 yard of the house, and the hog-yard, so as to convey the 

 liquids from these establishments to the meadow, Avhich being 

 done, it is not easy to estimate the quantity of grass that may 

 be grown thereon. It is safe to say that four tons to the acre 

 can be grown annually, without any other dressing. 



When it is considered that all this has been done on a 

 worthless bog, without any extravagant expenditure, chiefly 



