76 TKAXSACTIONS. 



New England can boast. This is no groundless speculation. Mr. 

 Shipman's reclaimed land, in Hadley, is, this very day, worth more 

 per acre, than the very best meadow land in the world-renowned 

 Connecticut valley, for the reason, that a given amount of labor and 

 manure, will produce more tobacco — more Indian corn — or broom- 

 corn — or potatoes, than the same expenditure will yield on the best 

 alluvial on the river of pines. Such a fact should cause every man 

 who owns a peat swamp, to smile in view of his treasure. For, when 

 drained, it may be rendered not only very productive — but will fur- 

 nish, also, material to reclaim worn-out old fields. Many are begin- 

 ning to believe, that these lands, that have been deemed worthless 

 swamps, are the most desirable for improvement. 



The day is not far distant, when a good farmer will be ashamed of 

 his neighbor, whose unreclaimed swamp furnishes a dwelling place, 

 through the warm season, for croaking frogs, toads and peepers. 

 The time is at hand, it is hoped, when all the swamps and swales of 

 Massachusetts will be drained and tilled, and thus rendered produc- 

 tive. Many acres in this county have already been reclaimed, and 

 made to bear much produce. There are more, however, that remain 

 unreclaimed, and unproductive. 



Four entries, of what were called reclaimed meadows, were made. 

 The Committee viewed them all. Only two pieces came within 

 their province, to wit, those entered by Messrs. Montague and Smith. 



STATEMENT OF ALBERT MONTAGUE, 



I offer three acres of reclaimed meadow in Sunderland. I can give an 

 accurate statement of the method and expense of reclaiming only one 

 acre, and of the amount of produce obtained therefrom. The entire 

 piece lies in a swamp of about ten acres, which has been partially 

 drained, from time to time, since 1833. By draining at considerable 

 expense, and overcoming opposition of neighbors, Avho were not 

 willing, at first, that I should cut a drain through their lands — although 

 their lands became twice as valuable, in consequence of the drain — 

 this whole swamp has been very much improved, and yields much 

 good feed, as well as much that is sour. My lot of three acres, to 

 which I invite your sj^ecial attention, lies near the south end of this 

 swamp, being as low as any part of it. I mowed it for a series of 

 years previous to 1852, and obtained a little coarse bog hay, bardy 

 sufficient to pay for my labor. 



In August 1851, immediately after mowing, I commenced draining, 

 more faithfully, and bogging it evenly, to fit it for the plow, as 



