IMPROVING WASTE AND PASTURE LAND. 113 



IMPROVING WASTE AND PASTURE 

 LANE). 



In tlie opinion of the committee, the premiums offered for the 

 improvement of pasture and waste land, stand in importance at 

 the head of all the premiums offered by this society. The pastures 

 in Essex county have by neglect become about one-quarter waste 

 land, and something should be done to stimulate their owners to see 

 to it that th3y do riot become almost or entirely valueless. In 

 riding over the county, it may be noticed that many pastures are 

 gradually becoming covered with juniper, savin, birches, and other 

 bushes aud trees. It is to be regretted that a line of distinction 

 could not be drawn between the pasture and forest ; whereas now 

 it is with difficulty that they can be distinguished. The stony parts 

 of pasture land may advantageously be covered with a growth of 

 pines or locusts, but lands adapted to pasturage, and appropriated 

 for that use, should be kept free of bushes and moss. By plough- 

 ing aud improving such land, we have better cows and fatter cattle ; 

 more milk, and stronger oxen. 



The experiments entered for premium this year, seem to be rather 

 in the renovating of waste land to a state of cultivation, than in the 

 improvement of run-out pastures, so as to make them more produc- 

 tive and valuable for summer feed. The statements of the claimants 

 are so full, that they tell their own story. 



The committee award to Jesse Smith, of Haverhill, for improv- 

 ing about two acres of waste land, the 1st premium, of ^15.00. 



To Jonathan Berry, of Middleton, the 2d premium, of ^lO.OO, 

 for improving one acre or more of waste land. 



The committee have also examined a piece of waste swampy land 



offered by James Manning, of Hamilton. They consider him a 



very energetic and industrious man, but Avere of opinion that the 



experiment he had undertaken, would, take one more year before a 



premium could be given. 



M. G. J. EMERY, Chairman. 



JESSE SMITH'S STATEMENT. 



I offer for inspection and premium two acres of land, which, 



before I commenced working on it, was of little or no value, it 

 15 



