100 



The land to which our attention "was called by Mr. Nelson 

 contains about four acres. The land, as per statement sub- 

 joined, was mostly covered with bushes — and the lowest part 

 with water during half the year. The bushes having been 

 cleared, and the land freed from water by covered drains filled 

 at the bottom with small stones to within eighteen inches of the 

 surface, so as not to obstruct the plough. This method of un- 

 derdraining is good economy on some lands where small stones 

 are to be cleared away ; and if done well the drains answer the 

 purpose intended for a long time — as some of the Committee 

 know from experience. 



STATEMENT OF CHAELES NELSON. 



The piece of land I offer for premium contains about four 

 acres ; it was mostly covered with bushes, consisting of blue- 

 berry, whortleberry and lambkill, or laurel. The water stood 

 upon the lowest part six months in the year. In the autumn 

 of 1858 I dug a drain through the lowest part, from three to 

 four feet deep and filled it to within about eighteen inches of 

 the surface with small stones, then covered with leather shav- 

 ings about one inch, then filled with what had been dug out 

 the drain. Cost, one dollar per rod, there being twenty-seven 

 rods. 



In the autumn of 1859 cut and burned the bushes at a cost 

 of five dollars ; ploughed the land at a cost of twelve dollars ; 

 in the spring of 1860 harrowed and planted at a cost of four- 

 teen dollars — planted with corn and potatoes, manuring in the 

 hill with about three cords to the acre, which is forty-eight 

 dollars at four dollars per cord ; hoeing three times, fifteen dol- 

 lars. Harvested sixty bushels of corn, worth one dollar per 

 bushel, and one hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes, worth 

 fifty cents per bushel. 



In the spring of 1861 removed about eight cords of roots 

 and sods at a cost of three dollars ; ploughing and planting, 



