K E C L A I M K D S \V A M P S . 69 



ed have become the best parts of the farms, yielding, in general, two 

 good crops of first quality hay in a season. 



A writer from Hampshire county, who is quoted by the Secretary 

 of the State Board of Agriculture, in his first annual Report, gives 

 the following process of reclaiming poor, worthless swamp lands : 



In the first place, says he, we drain them as dry as we can conve- 

 niently ; and, then, we cut the surface over as even as possible ; and 

 in some cases we plough and level it. Then we draw on sand or 

 gravel, at the rate of about a cart-load to a square rod of ground, and 

 then cart on fifteen or twenty loads of good manure to the acre, and 

 spread evenly over the ground, and then harrow it thoroughly. After 

 that, sow to herdsgrass, clover and red-top seed. The latter part of 

 A^gust is considered the best time for seeding, but it will do very 

 well, later in the season. 



STATEMENT OF SAMUEL POWERS. 



My piece of reclaimed swamp contains five acres, and it is situated 

 on the county road, leading from Hadley to Amherst, at the foot of 

 the hill, about half a mile from the former place. 



In 1837, I became the owner of the above land in connection with 

 twenty acres, a part of which was improved land, and worth what the 

 whole cost, leaving the portion I am about to offer for consideration, 

 in its then condition of little or no value. This worthless part first 

 engaged my attention. Its soil is of that peculiar kind, called peat, 

 and is the product of accumulated vegetable matter. I resolved, if it 

 were a practicable thing, to put it in a fit condition for cultivation, 

 and, on taking its water level, I found that in a distance of sixty rods, 

 there was a fall of about two feet. This fact encouraged me to make 

 the attempt to free it entirely of water. I cut a ditch, three feet in 

 depth, at the foot of the hill, which carried off the water which the 

 springs gushing from the hill sent forth. In addition to this, other 

 ditches of equal dimensions were dug, encircling the entire piece, and 

 one also through the centre. These ditches evacuated the swamp of 

 water. After the land had remained in this condition one year, I 

 proceeded to plow it with a team consisting of three yokes of oxen, 

 attended by three stout naen to guide the plow and turn the furrows. 

 Three days were consumed in plowing one acre ; at an expense of 

 twelve dollars. But the work was effectually done, the heavy swamp 

 sods being turned over e.nd buried eighteen inches deep, after clearing 

 the surface of the many roots and logs scattered over it. A drag and 

 'heavy cultivator were next applied, v/liich gave the before rough 

 swamp a smooth and level surface. The following spring, a smaller 

 plow, drawn by a pair of horses, turned over the surface, not disturb- 



