THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
479 
RECLAIMING A SWAMP 
Writing in the Rural New Yorker , January 15, W. N. 
Scarff, of New Carlisle, Ohio, gives his solution of a reclama¬ 
tion problem. The article was accompanied by illustra- 
1 tions which make clear the nature of the undertaking and 
1 the methods employed. 
“The pictures show some work we did last winter in 
reclaiming a 40-acre swamp. The illustrations show the 
workmen excavating p d the method of cribbing to keep the 
sand and gravel from rolling in, also the ditch after the 
sewer was laid and the cribbing pulled out. The sewer is 
fully 10 feet under the bottom of the ditch, as shown in the 
illustration. The length of the main ditch is just one-half 
mile. The average depth of the sewer is 15 feet, with over 
500 feet of a 20 to 23-foot dig. Almost all of this distance 
was through gravel and sand, making it necessary to crib 
with two-inch planks 16 feet long. The work was very 
dangerous owing to the treacherous gravel and sand and the 
immense pressure of same on the side? of the cribbing. It 
was necessary to resort to many different plans to accom¬ 
plish the work. 
“The best bid we could get from a confrector for the 
labor alone was $6,000. We used 18-mch sewer pipe, which 
alone required 12 cars to haul it in. Me considered the bids 
we had on the work entirely too high, and determined to 
undertake the work ourselves, whi< h we did, and had it done 
by local helpers with a good foreman to superintend it, feel¬ 
ing confident that the work could be accomplished at a 
I much less figure than the bids at hand. We accomplished 
the work, including cost of all sewer, drain tile, labor and 
everything, complete for $3,000, just half the bid for labor 
as made by our contractor. After the half mile of sewer 
was laid through the deep cut it was then necessary to run 
a system of common drain throughout the entire 40-acre 
tract in order to carry the water off quickly after heavy rain¬ 
falls. We used for this purpose twelve, ten, eight and six 
I ! inch tile. 
“The system has worked perfectly, and we feel that it will 
be even better in the years to come than now, as the water 
will establish natural channels which will carry it off rapidly. 
The rainfall this year was far above the average, and at no 
time did we have any surface water upon the land. M ith- 
out the tile we would have had at least three feet of water 
over the entire tract. We have a fall of seven feet for the 
one-half mile, which empties the water nicely; however, we 
have laid the sewer with a fall of three feet for the one-hal: 
5 mile. This brings us into the tract to be drained just four 
feet underneath the surface, giving us fine fall for all latera. 
ditches. 
The question that will naturally come up in the minds of 
your readers is whether the tract reclaimed will justify the 
enormous outlay. We had two prime reasons for attempt- 
- ing this work. The tract lies near our dwelling, and we did 
not consider it healthy to have this body of stagnant water 
so near; beside it was an unsightly place, covered with 
weeds, willows and rushes. Another reason was that it 
was considered by everyone an impossibility to drain this 
particular .'tract, as it had been attempted several times. 
j About 40 years ago it was undertaken by the township, and 
an immense amount of money spent on it without accom- 
1 
The Westminster Nursery 
Westminster, Md. 
OFFERS 
200,000 ASPARAGUS ASST. 2 year plants 
50,000 RASPBERRY PLANTS, extra fine Kansas, Eureka and Cumberland 
50,000 CATALPA SPEC. SEEDLINGS 
50,000 BLACK LOCUST SEEDLINGS 
PRIVET IN GRADES. CAROLINA POPLARS, 6 to 15 feet 
Get our prices before you buy. 
FOR SALE 
Well equipped Nursery Plant with good, thriving retail business 
in the heart of Michigan Fruit belt. For particulars write 
“EQUIPPED” NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
\\T A M'T'P'ri ex P ect t0 increase our capacity 
* *-**S mm and are in the market for quantities 
of Nursery stock (mainly young stock) of all kinds at bargain 
prices. Quality must be of the best. What have you? 
PITTSBURG NURSERY CO., Pittsburg, Kansas 
117 W. 5th St. 
WANTED 
A young man to take charge of a force of salesmen. 
A good place for someone. Please state if you have had 
any experience. Address 
M, care of National Nurseryman. 
W A IN T E D 
Peach Seed, Currant, Gooseberry and Poplar Cuttings 
State price and amount you can furnish 
OAK HILL NURSERIES. Franklin, Mass. 
WANTED--Grafters 
Permanent work to experienced men who are skillful budders, 
or grafting at our plants, at Dansville, N. Y., Rolla, Mo., 
Farmington, Ark. and Louisiana, Mo. Address nearest office. 
STARK BRO’S NURSERIES tx ORCHARDS CO. 
WE OFFER one year’s subscription to the NATIONAL 
NURSERYMAN and one copy of Webster’s New Illustra¬ 
ted Dictionary, 1,100 pages, limp leather binding, 
red edges, round corners, for S2.50. The Dictionary 
is a condensed Encyclopedia, containing all the in¬ 
formation required by the business man. This offer 
holds good on renewals or advance subscriptions. Dic¬ 
tionary itself retails at $2.50. 
NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 
