35 



there are ten thousand cabbage still growing (Oct. 10), 

 or partly sold, all of which goes to show that it is still 

 practicable, and also profitable, to take hold of the rough 

 parts of our Essex County farms, if near market, and a 

 man has grit enough to try it, and beside the more prac- 

 tical view of the achievement comes the pleasure of sub- 

 duing the " wilderness " and making it bring forth its 

 hidden beauties and possibilities. 



It would be almost, or quite, impossible for me to give 

 a detailed account of expenses and receipts with this 

 field, as it is only a part of the work I undertook, but 

 the stone were sold for from 80 cents to $1.50 per perch 

 (25 cubic feet), and have paid for the clearing of the 

 land, or very nearly so, leaving the crops produced to pay 

 for work of cultivation and fertilizers as with older fields. 



Chas. W. Mann, 



UNDERDRAWING LAND. 



The Committee on Underdrawing of Lands would 

 make the following report : 



We are sorry to state that there has been but one entry, 

 that made by Charles W. Mann, of Methuen. The past 

 summer has been an uncommonly good one to test the 

 efficiency of underdrains, as very heavy and continuous 

 rains have prevailed to an unusual extent. 



At the time of our visit, August 26, after one of those 

 rains, we found the drains working well. The land 

 underdrained was naturally cold and wet, with a fall of 

 about four feet to a brook on its easterly side. We found 

 it dry and solid or firm, while upon the other side of the 

 brook where not drained, it was quite wet and miry. Wo 

 think he has well earned the first premium of $15, and 

 would award it to him. We saw a good crop of onions 

 upon it. 



Andrew Nichols, James Noyes, Frank P. Todd — Com- 

 mittee. 



