88 



Mark H. Davis' Statement. 



I submit for consideration my operations on one acre of 

 meadow land on the farm of Lewis Allen, in Danvers ; that 

 has been under my care and improvement for three years 

 last past. 



In July, 1850, I began to invert the sod by the use of a 

 plough, but the mud was so soft, that the oxen could not 

 stand in the furrow. Consequently, I made use of a pair 

 wheels that the oxen might travel on the sward, and then I 

 cut the furrows to the depth of ten or twelve inches. This 

 meadow has a peat-bottom — some parts of it are so soft that 

 I could work only in the driest part of the season. In Sep- 

 tember 1851, 1 put a coating of tanner's manure, in which 

 were mingled hair and lime, on about half the lot, and sow- 

 ed herds-grass and red top thereon. In July, 1852. this 

 part, measuring 70 rods, yielded one and three quarters 

 tons of hay, of first rate quality, as estimated by those who 

 saw it. 



In August, 1852, I prepared the remainder of the lot, by 

 applying barn and night manure ; the difference was ob- 

 servable all the season — the appearance being much the best 

 where the barn and night manure was used. I have taken 

 from the ditches fifty cart loads of mud that I estimate to 

 be worth fifteen dollars, for upland dressing. The crop was 

 injured the present year, by the heavy fall of rain, about the 

 25th of May, which caused the water to overflow and stand 

 upon some parts of the land, the effect of which was per- 

 ceptible all through the season. 



I have sold 4310 pounds of hay from the land for $45 96 

 and have left what I estimate half a ton at 10 00 



Making the entire product of 1853 to amount to $55 96 

 The product of the previous year was sold for 36 00 



Amount of product for two years $91 96 



