129 



roughest fresh meadows iu Essex County, having been 

 used for a cow pasture for a number of years previous, and 

 its surface was completely covered with hassocks, clumps 

 of bushes and cranberry vines. In the fall of 1886 we 

 started to plough it with four horses, but found it impos- 

 sible to find a plough that would turn it over, the sod be- 

 ing so touofh it would fall back in the furrow after the 

 plough. We finally obtained a marsh share for the Oliver 

 plough that cut all the roots clean at the bottom of the 

 furrow. After we got it ploughed, the next question was 

 how to get loose soil enough so we could plant a crop. 

 We tried several tools for that purpose, with varying suc- 

 cess, and finally succeeded in getting a portion of it ready 

 for fodder corn the first spring ; we then planted about an 

 acre each year. After the first year it was comparatively 

 easy to work, and we now have it in long beds, ridged in 

 the centre, from forty to sixty feet wide, with surface 

 drains between each bed, with a good outlet for the water, 

 one-fourth mile in length. It can be ploughed at any time 

 with an ordinary team, and is now bearing a good crop 

 of English hay. 



The principle cost was the first ploughing ; since then 



I have been well paid for my labor, by the crops raised 



each year. The expense per acre was about as follows. 



Ploughing with 3 men and 4 horses 2 days $16 00 



Harrowing, 1 man and 2 horses 1 day 4 00 



120 00 

 To balance which we have the hay crop for the past 

 two seasons, one and a half tons per acre, worth ten dol- 

 lars per ton standing. 



3 tons of hay at $10. $30 00 



All it needs now, is fertilizer of some sort, and the hay- 

 crop for another year may be doubled. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



Maurice H. Connor. 



