22 



crop, I have every year mowed a second crop upon it. I have cal- 

 culated to put the same value of compost manure upon it in each 

 year, as I obtained second crop from it in the preceeding year. I 

 have spread upon it, from six to eight loads of compost manure an- 

 nually — but these would not average to contain more than one 

 chord of real manure annually. The second crop has paid for all I 

 have done to the land since it was first prepared. I have sowed 

 grass seed upon it about every third year. 



In 1811, I made another experiment on about half an acre of 

 meadow, by carrying coarse rocky gravel upon it. The gravel was 

 laid upon it from six to twelve inches thick. Experience has prov- 

 ed that too much gravel was carried on. It has not answered my 

 expectations. 



In 1821 and 2, I made another experiment on about three- 

 fourths of an acre of wet, miry meadow, situate to the east of my 

 house, near the road. I commenced here by turning the soil up- 

 side down, and throwing it into ridges between two and three rods 

 wide — the materials taken from the ditches were thrown upon these 

 ridges. The meadow was flowed in the autumn — and upon the ice 

 in the winter, I carried on sand and spread it upon the ridges about 

 four inches deep. In the spring I planted these ridges with pota- 

 toes, dunged with coarse manure, ajid obtained about a middling 

 crop. The next winter I carried on a coating of soil and compost 

 manure — and in the spring sowed it down with oats, herds-grass, 

 red top and clover. The crops since have been the largest grass I 

 have had upon the farm, and of a quality that commanded as good 

 a price as any that I had to sell. I have each year mowed a good 

 second crop also. I have put a dressing of compost manure on it 

 each year. 



In 1827, I reclaimed about half an acre of meadow, at the lower 

 end of my field in the same way 



In 1828 and 1829, I have also brought in about three-fourths of 

 an acre more of my meadow land in the same way. 



This kind of land requires manuring and dressing each year — and 

 the second crop it produces will usually pay for this dressing. 



I have found sand the best material to carry upon meadows. 

 The ditches should be kept clear, that the water may run off— other- 

 wise the meadov/ grass will return. It will not do to carry loam 

 upon meadows — if you do, it will all become meadow again, in a 

 few years. 



