220 APPENDIX. [March, 



M. 



redemption of bog meadow. 



Rev. H. Colman, 



Dtar Sir: — At the request of Mr. Brown, I forward you this paper. 

 It is well worth notice. I have rarely seen labor more successfully 

 applied. I saw the field in the month of August, and I have no ques- 

 tion of the correctness of the statercent. 



JOHN W. PROCTOR, 

 Secretary of ihe Essex Agricultural Society. 



I have myself been at the place two or three times, and witnessed 

 with the highest pleasure this valuable improvement ; not so extensive 

 as many in the State, but remarkable for the good judgment, persever- 

 ance, and labor, which its execution evinces. 



H. C. 



" The swamp in which I have been engaged for two years past, is 

 situated in Saugus. Between 5 and 6 acres of it I have wrought upon. 

 The mud or soil varied from two to twelve feet in depth. Two years 

 ago, this land was so thickly covered with briars and bushes, that it 

 was almost impossible for a dog to pass through it. These bushes 

 were mowed and burnt on the ground. There were so many stumps 

 and logs that it was not possible to plough ; so I commenced cutting 

 the turf or sods into squares, about 15 inches over, and then with 

 forked hoes, made very strong, pulled them up; and at the same time 

 cleared out the stumps and logs, also cleared out all the small roots 

 with the hoes, and replaced the sods the other side up. This part of 

 the work w.?s done in strips of about one rod in width. I conmienced 

 a year ago last August. I mowed the bushes and dug one ditch in 

 1S3G. 'J'he stumps and logs were cleared out without the help of 

 oxen. Some of the stumps had nearly half a cord of wood in them. 

 There were many trees blown down, and the meadow had formed over 

 them. Many of them were sound, and some measured 60 feet in 

 length. The stumps were very numerous. In some places, apparently 

 three tiers, one above the other; and under the bottom one, lay a pine 

 log, that had been on tire. The expense of clearing the land as above 

 described, and of digging the necessary ditches to drain it, and to 

 protect the adjoining land from fire, in burning the bushes, I estimate 

 to have been $504. In the winter I took oflf the wood and piled it up 

 for coaling. The largest of the roots I collected for my own fire. 

 The small ones were burnt upon the ground. This part of the labor 



