52 



In 1854 a ditch four feet wide and four feet deep, was cut 

 through the centre, and left open. Cross drains were cut to it, 

 and filled with stone. Adjoining this acre, and for the purpose of 

 more effectually draining it, Ave proceeded with one-half an acre to 

 an acre in this wise — cut a canal the depth of the mud, six to 

 eight feet, and eight feet wide around the acre, so as to leave it in 

 the shape of an egg. The brook which fills this canal with water 

 has sufficient fall to enable us to entirely drain the island and most 

 of the other portions of the meadow. We annually draw the 

 water off, and cut a slice from this island in the fall for our supply 

 of mud in the spring, and keep the water at such height as best 

 promotes the crops. About five acres of this has now been 

 gravelled, and seeded with oats and grass seed. The oats grew 

 five feet high, and we have cut from two to three tons per acre 

 from it. Nearly two acres were plowed last fall, and manured 

 this spring with a compost of barn-yard and pig-stye manure and 

 loam, spread upon the surface and harrowed in. 



It was planted with potatoes and garden vegetables. One acre 

 of it produced one hundred and sixty-five bushels of Davis seed- 

 lings. 



The account of expense and products is annexed. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



W. T. G. Morton, 

 " Etlierto7i Cottage^'' West Needham. 



$91.50 



The expense of " gravelling " was thirty dollars ; and " filling 

 drains," fourteen dollars — both of which, being 2^(^^^nanent im- 



