22 MR. PROCTOIl's ADDRESS. 



that have passed through a state of putrid fermentation, 

 and as soon as the water is removed, and the particles 

 of the soil are brought in close contact, are susceptible 

 of being made very productive. Especially when a 

 dressing of some appropriate manure is applied, adapted 

 to stimulate the other parts to successful action. 



Others of a peaty texture, contain substances that have 

 not been through the putrid fermentation, necessary be- 

 fore it can be used as the food of plants, or the compo- 

 nent parts of manure. These need to be exposed to the 

 action of the atmosphere, and to have other substances 

 mingled with them. 



The first attempts at improvement on these lands, to 

 which our attention was called, were by Messrs. Osgood, 

 of Andover, Putnam and Ingersoll,of Danvers, and others. 

 These were made principally by draining, and by the ap- 

 plication of sand and gravel to the surface. The expense 

 of covering the sod with a sufficient depth of these ma- 

 terials, to completely check the growth of the meadow 

 grasses, operated a serious check upon improvements of 

 the kind, and the care and attention necessary to conti- 

 nue the water courses open, and the frequent repetition 

 of a dressing of manure required, prevented an extensive 

 application of this kind of improvement. Fine crops 

 were in some instances produced ; but it is not expedi- 

 ent for the farmer to spend his efforts in raising fine 

 crops, when they cost more than they are worth. Such 

 instances of culture, in the vicinity of his residence, may 

 sometimes be justified by collateral considerations; but 

 in general, it should be the aim of the farmer, that the 

 produce should repay the expense of producing it. Oth- 

 ers attempted improvements by paring and burning the 

 surface ; and this was done in repeated instances with 

 good success. Among the best experiments of this kind 

 were those of Messrs. Osborn and Brown, of Saugus, and 

 Mr. Newhall, of Lynnfield. I witnessed the crops on 

 their lands, on the first and second year after they com- 

 menced, and found them most luxuriant. What have been 

 the subsequent crops, I am not informed. 



More recent experiments in reclaiming these lands, 



