Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-03
REoLAIMlMa MEADOWS.
worthless Land That Can he Easily Made
Very Valuable.

Very Valuable.
The having season being nearly or
quite over the farmer will have time TO
think OF other things. and one Of the
most important of these other things,
II he has any low land, meadow, swamp
or whatever it may be called, that has
not been improved, will be to set about
improving the same. II is fact that
there are thousands OF acres Of the very
best land certainly in New England
that now produce very little Of value,
which, IL improved, would be the most
valuable land that could be found. We
know whereof we speak. We could
give instance after instance where such
lands that were regarded as Of little
value have been reclaimed and have be-
come quite valuable.
Many meadows, or swamps, that
were formerly very wet have, in the
process of time, been quite changed,
and are no longer too wet 70 be cult
waited We have in mind land where
formerly all the meadow hay that grew
upon II had 10 be poled of, which now
produces good English hay, and one
may plow the land with horses anl
haul oil the hay as from any other field
We know lands that to-day are consid-
cred worth one thousand dollars per
acre to grow celery on, which but few
years ago were covered with a growth
Of swamp maple and worth only the
price OF wood land.
It may BE- said that il is expensive to
reclaim such lands; and IL l. true that
1t costs something, but most of the eX-
pense is in the nature Of q permanent
improvement We could give many in
stances that have fallen under our own
observation 10 show that money 80 in
vested will prove profitable. A neigh
Dor told Us within a week that some
years ago he hired man, mt Il low rate,
/ in winter 10 cart sand and gravel on 10
a meadow Of some five acres In extent,
connected with his farm. Only por.
| ton OF the meadow was so covered but
from that part he has continued to cut
good quality Of hay. and he assured me
that the outlay had been as good as
money invested at twelve per cent.
| interest
This work should be done on some
I system, and in order 10 get the best re-
suits from the outlay the meadow must
be properly drained, either by open or
covered bitches or tile. Some prefer
one way, some the other Some use
stone for this purpose where they have
| plenty. After providing for the drain
| age the land should receive dressing
OF sand or gravel II ii Is not con.
yenIent to put this on at this season OF
the year. arrange 20 do II early next
/ winter OF course, all rubbish should
be cleared OIL, bushes, stumps, etc. II
/ the land be clear and dry enough, it
/ will be better TO plow II, but in some
/ cases II may have to be grubbed over
| with suitable hoes. II the rubbish Is
| burned, care must be taken 10 prevent
the fire from getting into tie peat II il
be peat soil for often much damage
Is done In this way.
Some prefer 10 put Ia a crop Of pota-
toes the first year after tho land Is
broken up. and II Is good crop 10 pre-.
pare the land for seeding. When the
land Is in suitable condition TO SOW 10
grass il will be better TO give IL good
dressing Of some special fertilizer. "a
start the young grass. Sow such lands
10 timothy and red top. and expect a
large first and second crop each year
for four or five years. IL one can use
the land so reclaimed for celery, onions,
borse-radish or other crop that prefer,
a moist soil. and can find q ready mar
ket for such products. thon II will pay
even = better income than II kept ia
grass. II will become necessary 10 plow
the land once In four or Eve years even
II il be devoted TO grass In such case
.urn the sward under, aud apply dress
ing, aud SOW 10 grass again Good
crops will be the result a. such manage
ment In years Of drought such iandi
can be relied upon 10 give CROP In fact
they will always give . good crop u
rightly managed.
We do most strongly urge our farmel
friends who have meadows or low lands
now producing little or nothing, 10 i'm
prove the coming two or three months,
when the water Is low. 10 work upoI
such lands. and bring them into eonl
ton 90 that they win henceforth be I
source Of considerable profit - ccHgr
0afloHaiisL