74 



VIII. Peat for Fuel. The peat meadows in Essex are ex- 

 tensive, and constitute a valuable resource to the inhabitants for fuel. 

 In Wenham an intelligent farmer stales, that the peat meadows 

 yield about three cords of peat to a rod, by going two feet after the 

 sod is taken off. The sod which is taken off is usually thrown back 

 into the ditch ; and after it is cut over in this way for peat, the land is 

 considered worth ^25 dollars an acre for the grass which may be got 

 from it, a coarse aquatic grass. It is not determined how many years 

 will be required to restore the meadow to its former consistency. 

 At the rale of three cords to a rod, an acre of good peat land will 

 yield 480 cords. The peat is ordinarily worth $3 per cord ; if well 

 cured by being housed, much more than this. It may be cut and cured 

 to the halves. It is stated in English publications, that peat may be 

 charred to advantage, and be converted in this mode into an excel- 

 lent fuel free from all offensive odor. For this reason I caused 

 some to be charred in Salem, but the result was not favorable. 



In Rowley the yield of peat land is rated at the same as above. 

 They consider peat as three fourths of the value of oak wood. At 

 Ipswich it brings $5 per cord. The digging and carrying out of a 

 cord of peat is considered a day's work. The labor in getting peat 

 is regarded the same as getting wood and preparing it for the fire. 

 There are in Rowley one thousand acres of peat land. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



Great iraprovemenls have been made in the county in the man- 

 agement of salt marsh by ditching, draining, and dykeing. 



The average yield of salt marsh, is from three fourths of a ton, 

 to one and a fifth, and one and a half tons. A farmer in Salis- 

 bury, and one in Ipswich, speaks of the importance of draining salt 

 marshes. The latter slates that on 12 acres of marsh, where for- 

 merly he obtained four tons only, he now gets twelve tons, simply 

 from draining the marsli. Another experienced farmer says, " it is 

 always useful to drain salt marshes if men would only Lave patience 

 to wait for iis effects. " Two other farmers, whose judgment deserves 



