51 



to fail in the dryest season, and a rich soil which is particularly 

 favorable to the cultivation of vegetables. 



It must be difficult to estimate accurately the expense of this 

 whole improvement, as the operation has been so long going on, 

 and the work has been done at odd times, and jn-obably much of 

 it at seasons when men and teams could be employed without 

 neglect of other and more necessary work. But the result of the 

 experiment shows what may be done in similar situations, where 

 land is more valuable. 



By constructing a dam, and flowing back the water, Dr. Mor- 

 ton is able to irrigate these reclaimed meadows in a time of 

 drought, or overflow them at will, which gives him a great advan- 

 tage over those who have not such means of moistening the soil. 

 One acre of these meadows which has lately been reclaimed, and 

 for which a premium is now claimed, was planted with potatoes 

 the present year — the Davis seedling — and the tubers had been 

 moistened from time to time, by the rising of the water, and your 

 Committee can bear testimony by actual inspection, to the giant 

 growth, the large size, and unusual quantity of potatoes, which 

 were produced on this piece of irrigated soil. A magnificent speci- 

 men of these potatoes was exhibited at the late Agricultural Fair, 

 to the great admiration of the lovers of this valuable esculent. 



A detailed statement from Dr. Morton, of the mode of opera- 

 tion, the expenses attending it, and the produce of this one acre 

 the present year, accompanies this report, in accordance with the 

 rules of the Society, by which it will be seen that the experiment 

 has not only been completely successful, but also profitable. Your 

 Committee, therefore, conceive Dr. W. T. G. Morton to be en- 

 titled to the first premium of ten dollars, for " the best experiment 

 in reclaiming wet meadow," and respectfully recommend that it 

 be awarded accordingly. 



JOHN S. SLEEPER, Chairman. 



Roxhiiry^ JVbvember, 18G1. 



STATEMENT OF W. T. G. MORTON. 



The meadow land which I had reclaimed, contains about five 

 acres, and is situated in tlie most valuable part of the farm, and 

 was continually saturated with water from numerous springs. The 

 mud averages about four feet in depth. ^ One acre, situated at the 

 base of a high ledge, is eight feet deep. This is the acre I sub- 

 mit my account upon. 



The natural products of the land were brakes, meadow cab- 

 bages, moss, etc. I found trees eight feet under the surface, 

 which we cut out by the shovelful, as we did the mud. 



