53 



RECLAIMED LANDS. 



The committee appointed to examine orchards set in spring of 1865, and 

 unproductive lands, both to be reported on and awards made in 1KG8, have 

 attended to and performed said duty, and submit the following report: — 



There were six pieces of land containing not less than one acre each, all 

 of which could be greatly improved by a reasonable application of labor. 

 The piece owned by Orren Curtiss of Sheffield, was on the west side of Har- 

 mon pond, and nearly on a level with the same, mostly muck covered, with 

 bogs, hard hack, &c, the highest part covered with alders and other small 

 wood, with a clay subsoil, a most forbidding looking piece ot laud, if it 

 might be called such land by such a name. 



Theodore H. Fenn entered one acre on the west side of Negro pond 

 swamp, a piece entirely unproductive, where cattle could not walk on a con- 

 siderable part of it, covered with bogs, hard hack, alders, and large pine 

 stumps, whortleberry bushes, &c, soil, muck, clay and gravel subsoil. 



John Hale of Tyringham, had in process of reclaiming, some three 

 four acres, can be thoroughly drained, soil decomposed vegetable matter, 

 washed from the hill east of it, by a brook running through the same. 



Lebbeus M. Pixley of Great Harrington, showed to your committee a 

 beautiful piece of land near his barn which showed what a master hand 

 could do in reclaiming land, and did not, in the opinion of the committee, at 

 the time of examination, come within the term unproductive and unreclaimed 

 land. 



Joel I'. Kilbourn of Great Harrington, had from three to four acres of 

 swamp land, covered with hard hack, willows, bushes, &c, but little muck, 

 some peat and clay. Not enough had been done on it to entitle the owner 

 to a premium. 



David F. Goodrich of Stockbridge, entered one acre which many years 

 since, had been mowed, producing coarse hay, but was entirely grown up 

 to begs, coarse grass and bushes. He did only enough on a small part of 

 it to show your committee that more labor bestowed on that land would 

 not be lost. 



All the above lands have been examined three times by a majority, or 

 or at least some one or more of the committee, viz: in September 1S65, 

 'bl and '68, they having witnessed the progress and success of the com- 

 petitors. Your committee avail themselves of the statement of the com- 

 petitors, and append the same as a part of their report. 

 The first premium was awarded to Orrin Curtis of Sheffield, $10 00 



statement of orrin curtis. 



Dr. 

 18 05— To labor on main ditch, $10 00 



L^nderdrains, with plank bottoms and filled with stone, 15 00 



Taking out brush, trees, hard hack, &c, by the roots, 35 00 



Spreading muck from the main ditch, and harrowing in grass seed, &c, 5 00 

 Grass seed, timothy, and red top, 5 00 



Three loads manure, 3 00 



Expenses in 1805, $13 00 



