Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11
Gle Farmer.
Clearing and Improving Marshes,

OACotAAS duu AAuPAoNAnS 0dISuco
In reply to "Orleans Co. Farmer" in the
Freeman of Feb, 25th, we give the follow
ing from one of our exchanges, Will some
of our Farmers give US the time to do the
work, and the means usedS
Many farms throu ghout the country are
'dis6gured by portions of marsh or swamp land
Of various extent and characteristics, but
alike in being nearl " valueless for all the pur-
poses of Agriculture, in their present unim-
proved condition. They may afford covert
for birds, anda haunt for reptiles. and, per-
haps, some wild berries and coarse grasses,
but their growth, unlike that of the forest,
does not increase in value with succeeding
years. Yet, when drained and cleared, these
'eye-sores of the provident husbandman be-
come the most easily cultivated and produce
tive part of the farm. Their reclamation
may be expensive, but few years will repay
the outlaw, and an additional handsome profit
to the farmer This subject has received con
siderable attention in New England; and the
premiums offered by the different Agricultural
Societies, have brought out mass of infor-
nation in the statements of competitors and
reports of committees. Without further re-
ference to the 1bo, sehen and ,ohere we shall
mention some instances-as the facts alone
are OF Importance to our readers.
Zone farmer, who has reclaimed fifteen acres
of swamp land, did it by open draining clear
ing off boys and brush, and then carting on
300 loads of gravel to the acre. The whole
cost, per acre, was about $40 The land is
flooded every year, which increases the guam
tity, and improves the quality of the grass
and the profit on the present crops is equal to
4 the interest Of $500 per annum.
I'm another instance, ten acres of bog mead.
ow were reclaimed at an expense of $40 to
$40 peracre. 1t was first thoroughly drain
ed by covered sluioes, laid three feet deep,
then plowed fiat and narrowed. Then tweaty
five loads of compost, composed Of two parts
upland soil, and one of stable manure, were
applied per acre, The second year a dress
ling of oyster-shell lime was given, in Au-
gust the land was narrowed fine, and seeded
with half bushel Of herds grass, one bushel
of red top and twelve quarts Of clover seed,
per acre, and amoothod down with a roller.
The yield is stated at from two to three tons
per acre.
Another farmer reclaimed three acres Of
muck, generally covered with water, and stu
ated ia a hollow on the mountains, as follows:
He first opened an outlet for the water;
three years after lowered this, cut bitches
around and across, every ten rods apart, and
put some small potatoes ia cultivation. The
natural condition of the marsh was "a yegeta-
bic deposit Of muck and peat, from three to
twelve Ieet deep. The fifth year after COM
rmencing upon it, the crops of corn, potatoes
and garden vegetables on one-half the lot,
paid the whole expense,o of retaining and cul-
tiYation
The last instance we Shall new mention, is
that of d farmer who drained his marsh and
carried on 800 leads Of gravel per acre, which
changed it from T. worthless, miry spot, prod,a-
cling not more than three-fourths of tun of
poor fodder per acre,-cawied cut on poles
to land now producing three tuRs OF excel
lent hay per acre, which he can rake with his
i horse rake, and draw off with his cart and OK
en- at pleasure. The crops pay six per cent,
ON the exense Ct bringing into and keeping
in cultivation.
These statements show that it is profitable
to clear and drain marshes. Let US then, re-
move these pestilent quagmires from our farms
by making them into good Iand-yielding
good crops of almost every farm product -
and bringing cash into our pockets, instead of
asnov, sickness to our families, and cur
hearts.
Since preparing the above, we lave reoeiv-
ed the following from new contributor.
EDITOR FREtMAN.-I noticed a communi-
cation in your paper Of February 25th from
'@' Orleans Co. Farmer 7'enguiring what is the
best manner of clearing up a musk swamp,
and if "such an undertaking will pay" l
purchased muck swamp Of fourteen acHes,
for $50 few years since, it being yery wet
cut the timber and bushes ON three acres,
in the winter, IN the spring, a. ditched the
same and seededit with foul meadow seed.
The next summer after, it being the dry sea-
son, cleared FIVE acres more, and got good
burn. The next spring | sowed this to oats,
and seeded it with herds grass, red clover,
foul meadow, and red top. Ithink foul mead
ow is the best kind of grass for swamps. l
have this winter cleared two acres more, what
was cleared in the winter, produces about
three tuus Of hay, to the acre, the summer
clearing two tuns to the acre. In answer to
the question, g viii such an undertaking paw"
ean say, L have been offered $50 per acre
for the whole swamp, SO any one can judge
for himself whether to clear q swamp will
pay or not If any one wishes to obtain foul
meadow seed. they can do SO by sending to
me- u. LAMBERTOy.
Marshheld, March 2..1S58
REMARKs.-Accompanying the above very
Interesting communication was few heads of
foul meadow grass also one whole stalk meas
uring fonr feet in leagth. The specimen show
ed very good looking qualify Of hay and
we should judge that there might be great
many such additions as that of Mr.. Iaamber-
toms made to farms in this state What say
the farmers?
WHOLE POTATOES Us EYES FOR SEED.-An
English paper the Ipswich Express, gives the
result of an experiment lately made to ascer-
tain what would be the difference in yield
where the whole potatoes were used for
seed or the eyes alone, and reports thus:
-" A trial has been made in the vicarage
garden, Coggershall of potatoe-eyos against
whole potatoes, on perfectly equal terms, a
row of each side bysde-a certain number OF
whole potatoes were sown yard apart, the
eyes of the same sort sown at the usual dis
tance-equal care was taken in all respects
that ba +r,o1 MIGHT ha fair Tho rocnlt nc