West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-18
RECLAIMING MEADOWS.
Worthless Land That Can lie Easily Mad
Very Valuable.


Very Valuable.
The haying 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,
If 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. 1t is a fact that
there are thousands of acres of the very
best land--certainly in New England
that now produce very little of value.
which, if 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 rs 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 to be cult
waited. We have i'm mind land where
formerly all the meadow hay that grew
upon it had to be poied oil, which now
produces good English hay, and one
may pillow the land with horses and
haul of the hay as from any other field.
We know lands that to-day are consid-
cred worth N thousand dollars per
acre TO grow celery on, which but a few
years ago were covered with a growth
OF swamp maple and worth only the
price Of wood land.
IL may be- said that il is expensive to
reclaim such lands; and it is rue that
II costs something, but most of the ex-
pense is IN the nature of a permanent
Improvement. We could give many in
stances that nave fallen under our own
observation to show that money so in
vested Will prove profitable. A neigh
Dor told US within u week that some
years ago he hired a man, at "a low rate.
IN winter TO cart sand and gravel on TO
a meadow Of some five acr1 in extent
connected with his farm. Only n por.
o OF the meadow vas so covered. but
from that part he has continued to cut a
good quality Of hay, and he assured me
that the outlay had been as rood as
money invested at twelve per cent.
interest
This work should be done on some
system, and in order 60 get the best re-
suits from the outlay the meadow must
be properly drained, either by open or
covered bitches or tile. Some prefer
n way, some the other. Some use
stone Tor This purpose where they have
plenty. After providing for the drain
age the land should receive a dressing
OF sand or gravel. II il is not con-
ven ent TO put this on at this season OF
the year, arrange TO do 10 early next
winter. OF course. all rubbish should
be cleared on. bushes, stumps. etc. If
the land be clear and dry enough, il
will be better 70 plOw IL, but i'm some
cases n may have to be grubbed over
with suitable hoes II the rubbish il
burned care must be taken TO prevent
the fire from getting into thc pcat-ifit
be % peat soil for often much dama0e
is done in thi, way
Some prefer 20 put in q crop of pota-
tOos the first year after the land IL
broken mp. and it is n good crop 10 pre-
pare the land for seeding When the
land is in suitable condition TO SOW to
grass 10 will be better to give II a good
dressing Of some special fertilizer, to
start the young grass. Sow such lands
90 timothy and red top. and expect a
large first and second crop each year
for four or five years. II one can use
he land so reclaimed for celery. onions,
horse radish or Otncr r ;haf prefers
p moist soil ahd can find q ready mar
ket for such products. then it will pay
even p be.ter income than IL kept in
grass. u VIII become necessary TO pl0w
the land once Zoo four or i've years. even
70 30 he devoted 10 grass. In such case
turn the sward unde, and apply dress
Ing. and SOW 20 grass aga ~ Good
crops VIII be the result o. such manao,
ment IN years Of drought such lands
c'n boz rel al upon ~ give 70 crop in iact,
hoy wn always give n good crop K
rightly managed
We dJ most strongly urge our farmer
friend who have meadows or low lands.
noH producing little or nothing. To- inn
prove 'hc com NJ Two or three mon tbs.
"I'u The water is low. To- work upon
fu. lands. and bring them INTO condi-
on sp that thcy VIII honccforth be p
ouIc' % cons derablo profit - Congre.
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