MR. proctor's yVDDRESS. 23 



have been made by turning over the sod, and mingling 

 with it a sufficient quantity of loam, or other substance, 

 to give it a consistency to support vegetation, and then 

 cultivating it in a manner to preserve the remains ofthe 

 decaying vegetable matter in the soil. Unquestionably, 

 where the process of draining can be so complete as to 

 admit of this, — this process of culture will be most eli- 

 gible. For so much of the vegetable material as has been 

 destroyed by fire, or otherwise removed, will in the course 

 of time, need to be replaced for the renovation of the soil. 

 Successful experiments in this way have been made by 

 Messrs. D. P. King, of Danvers, J. Marland, of Andover, 

 and J. Newhall, of Lynnfield. Similar experiments with 

 the best success, without the application of gravel, were 

 made a number of years since on the farm of Mr. J. 

 Nichols, in the south-westerly part of Salem. Here spe- 

 cial care was taken to keep the ditches clear, and free 

 of grass or leaves, so that no obstruction should remain 

 to the perfect draining ofthe land. I refer to these in- 

 stances of culture, as specimens ofthe practical applica- 

 tion ofthe principles, but not as descriptive of all that 

 has been done. The mode of mana«;ement proper to be 

 adopted, must depend upon the particular chai'acter of 

 the meadow or soil, — upon the depth and component 

 parts ofthe vegetable material ; — upon the nature of the 

 sub-soil beneath; — upon the character ofthe springs that 

 flow in fromthe adjoining hills; — and upon numerous other 

 varying circumstances observable in particular cases, that 

 cannot be anticipated or specified in any generalrules. In 

 this as in all other farming processes, there is constant oc- 

 casion for the application of good judgment and good sense. 

 The application of theoretic rules without these will often 

 end in disappointed hopes. By good sense, I mean the 

 right application of well established scientific principles. 

 A most important use can be made of these bogs and 

 reservoirs of vegetable matter, by taking therefrom at 

 convenient times, supplies for the barn-vard, for the 

 swine-pen, and the compost heap, all of which are indis- 

 pensably necessary on every well managed farm. The 

 experience ofthe last twenty-five years has taught much 



