72 O N M E A D O \V A N D S VV A M P I- A N D S , 



sion that one of the best efforts that the Essex County Agricul- 

 tural Society could make would be to secure a scientific and 

 practical survey of the meadows of the county. In this 

 way great and important principles might be developed, much 

 useless labor saved, many disappointments avoided, successful 

 enterprises accomplished with less expense, and the whole la- 

 bor bestowed on this part of farming be followed by much more 

 encouraging reward. To give a single illustration : — 



Some meadows in this county are flooded with water which 

 comes in the form of springs from the high lands in the vicini- 

 ty, and can be easily drained by cutting ditches in the borders. 



Others receive their water from springs rising up under- 

 neath, and require therefore a different process. 



Many are simple basins, having a hard and impervious bot- 

 tom. They hold the water which is rained upon them, and 

 the little that runs in upon the surface of land around, as wa- 

 ter runs into tubs from the roofs of buildings. 



Some swamps no doubt are watered by a combination of all 

 these sources. 



Now, how obvious it is tliat in draining these swamps a re- 

 gard must be had to these circumstances. And how few, com- 

 paratively, are as fully informed, and at present have it in their 

 power to be as fully informed, as would be good and profitable 

 for them to be. How could the Society do better than to in- 

 vestigate the subject and inform the County 7 A few hundred 

 dollars laid out in such a survey, would be followed by mani- 

 fold more advantages than all the premiums that are likely to 

 be given on reclaimed lands for many years. 

 For the Committee. 



G. B. PERRY. 



Danvers, Nov. 17, 1845. 



DAVID gray's statement. 



To the Committee on Mcadoxo and Swamp Land : 



Gentlemen, — 1 commenced operations on my meadow in the 

 autumn of 1842, with no practical experience in the business, 



