MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 55 



have turned over a few acres after the " new husbandry," which 

 has done well. I have tried salt as an experiment, but saw no 

 good reason to repeat it. Guano does well, but, after all, I 

 firmly believe that the compost heap will never go out of 

 fashion. 



To bring this piece of land to its present condition required 

 some courage, with a due proportion of faith and hope. These 

 were brought freely into use ; and, while it has cost some hard 

 words and much hard loork^ a full offset has been received, in 

 addition to the crops, by the pleasure it affords in seeing a piece 

 of land so depraved brought into a kind and obedient condition, 

 and now so full of good works. 



Some may be disposed to ask, Is farming in this way profita- 

 ble ? I answer. Yes. Besides the considerations above stated, 

 the value of such lands is increased more than four-fold, and 

 every good farmer will acknowledge it. The increased value 

 alone will pay for all the labor bestowed upon them. There 

 are, in the county of Middlesex, thousands of acres like them 

 that produce nothing, and, in their present condition, are worth 

 nothing, which might be made most valuable. I hope such 

 lands will receive more of the attention of all good farmers. 



Concord^ August^ 1846. 



/. B. Farmer'' s Statement. 



I will make a brief statement of facts, being the result of my 

 own experience within the last seven years, on my bog-mead- 

 ows. I have made several experiments, such as gravelling 

 without ploughing, harrowing and then gravelling, harrowing 

 and not gravelling, digging up and planting potatoes, then sow- 

 ing without gravelling : burning, gravelling and sowing. But 

 the best crops I have obtained from the following culture : I 

 plough any time (as is convenient,) after haying, until the 

 ground freezes ; after the ground is frozen. I cart on gravel, sand 

 or loam, as may be, to the depth of two and one half inches, 

 spread and let it remain, until the frost is out to the depth of 



