Explanation.-K is the land drained. Formerly there was an open drain where the main drain now is, running nearly the whole length, to draw off the surface water. This drain caused the loss of nearly a rod of land in width for its entire length, besides being a great inconvenience in ploughing and working around it, as it completely divided the field, and by no means drained the land so as to admit of cultivating it. The soil was so very wet and swampy that it was difficult to cross it with a team, even in the dryest time, being at all times filled with the cold water from the high land springs. In the spring it was generally covered with water, and, in fact, it was an entire waste, besides subjecting me to the expense and inconvenience of this open drain.

A is the main drain, four hundred and fifty feet long from the drains B on the side of the high land to P, the harbor; it is about three and a half feet deep except between the harbor and the drain E, where, in consequence of a swell in the land, it is about six feet deep. This drain is made eighteen inches wide at the bottom; jamb rocks are laid on each side and bridged over with flat rocks, leaving a flue beneath. The whole is then covered a foot deep with small stones, which being again covered slightly with fine shingle ballast from the beach to prevent the dirt sifting among the stones, the earth is shovelled in and levelled off.

BB are two arms from the head of the main drain, each seventy-five feet long, extending across the side of the high land.

C is a drain one hundred feet long, extending into the side of the high land.

D is a drain one hundred and twenty-five feet long, extending along the side of the same high lands as C.

E is a drain seventy-five feet long, extending into the high land on the other side of the main drain.

F is a drain seventy-five feet long, extending into the high land.

HH are two arms from the head of the drain F, each seventy

* Shingle ballast is the small stones worn smooth by the action of the waves and driven upon the sea shore.

five feet long, and extend along the side of the high land. All the drains leading into the main drain are from three to five feet deep, and made from ten to twelve inches wide at the bottom, with flat stones placed carefully at the bottom, inclined together at the top so as to form an opening for the water. These are covered twelve to eighteen inches deep with small stones, which are again covered slightly with the shingle ballast named above. The drains are then filled up with earth and levelled off.

The land through which these drains are made, after getting through the soil, is a very hard, gravelly subsoil, which has to be all picked up with a pickaxe.

I did not keep an account of the cost of this drainage, as it was all done by the men employed upon my farm; but, considering the hardness of the subsoil and the unusual depth that it was necessary to make there on account of the location, I think they would cost one dollar per rod.

These drains have admirably accomplished the purpose for which they were made, having perfectly freed the land from all the high land springs, and thereby leaving it the best land in the field, so that it can be ploughed and planted with the rest of the field. Last year I planted cabbages and carrots on this land, and had good crops. This year I have carrots and onions on it, and part of the crop of onions which I have entered for premium this fall grew upon this very spot, which, till last year, has never produced any thing; and I see no reason why these drains should not continue to produce the same results for all time to come, as they are entirely below and out of the way of all frost.

I put in about one thousand feet of under drains last fall, and am putting in about four thousand feet this fall, the result of which will appear hereafter.

MARBLEHEAD, November 15, 1854.

PASTURE LANDS.

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

The committee on improving pasture lands report:That but one entry was made, and that at a recent date; to the examination of this the attention of the committee was called immediately after the notice of the entry was communicated to the chairman.

This entry was made by Jonathan Berry, of Middleton, whose statement, herewith submitted, will exhibit the former state of the land, and the course of improvement adopted.

The land, located in a swale, is of oblong shape, bordered on one side and end by highways, on the other side by the Essex Railroad, and the remaining side by land of the owner, partly reclaimed and partly in its natural state. It was in various states of improvement-from the rough state, after two ploughings, to a smooth surface, well set in grass. The bushes in all seemed to have been well eradicated, and the stones, with the exception of a few scattering bowlders, removed from their beds, and collected in locations convenient for removal, or already taken from the lot, as the owner found opportunity for sale or use.

This state of the land afforded the committee a favorable opportunity of judging of its former condition, and of its promise of future production, and also of the adaptedness of the course of improvement adopted by Mr. Berry to produce the desired effect.

The committee were fully of opinion that the course adopted was judicious, and its execution thorough, but, upon considering what would be the future use of the land, were of opinion. that it would be better adapted for field than pasture cultivation. Upon this view of the case, and the probable meaning of the society in offering the premiums on improved pasture land, doubts were entertained of the propriety of considering this case as one contemplated in the offer-which doubts were strengthened and confirmed by recurring to the opening re

marks of the committee published by the society in the Transactions of last year.

Your committee, therefore, believing this case not within the intent of the offered premiums of the society, but fully impressed with the merit of the experiment, recommend that the statement of Mr. Berry be published in the Transactions of the society, and a gratuity of eight dollars be awarded to him.

While we are gratified in noticing improvements in tillage and mowing land in various parts of the county, it is but seldom we are favored with the sight of equal improvement in grazing lands.

In a former report of a committee of this society on this subject the deterioration of our pastures was adverted to and enforced by noticing the increased allowance of land to the animal; and, in a more recent report and accompanying statement, remarks and facts are imbodied which may be useful for the consideration of those of us who have deteriorated pastures.

The writer of this was gratified to learn that one of the trustees was about to try the effect of sheep grazing upon old pastures, and has great confidence in the success of the experiment.

As practical experience is more satisfactory than theoretical speculations, the writer will only relate the experience he has had in the amelioration of pasture lands, which, though only partially applied on a small scale, may lead to more extended and satisfactory experiments.

In the early part of the summer of 1853, guano, mixed with an equal quantity of plaster, was applied as a top dressing to pasture lands, with some visible effect on the herbage for that season, and extended in a smaller degree to the present summer, but not in sufficient improvement to continue the experiment under similar circumstances-it being applied after the spring rains.

Plaster has also been applied on the surface without any marked effect. Leached ashes have also been used as a top dressing, with more marked benefit than either of the others, and had the effect of eradicating moss, and introducing white clover, and materially increasing the grass where applied.

Some small experiments in scarifying the surface and scattering grass seed over it have also been made, with results rather encouraging. With tools adapted to the purpose, it is believed much may be done in this way to improve and renovate our worn-out pastures.

This subject commends itself to the committee, as deserving the continued, if not increased, attention of the society; and it is hoped that the farmers of Essex may be stimulated to increased efforts to improve in this branch of husbandry.

JOSIAH LITTLE, Chairman.

Statement of Jonathan Berry.

The piece of land which I offer for your inspection, containing some six or seven acres, when I purchased the farm, in 1841, was of little or no value, as it was nearly covered with alder, blueberry bushes, lambkill, brakes, besides rocks in any quantity. In the first place I subdued the alders by mowing; I then removed most of the large stones, and sold about twenty-eight dollars' worth, which paid all the expense of getting them out. In 1851 I ploughed about four acres. In 1852 I cross ploughed and harrowed the same. In 1853 I ploughed two acres of the same, and spread on about twenty loads of barn manure, and sowed it with millet. It yielded three tons, the land being very uneven, and not fine enough for so small a seed. In 1854 I ploughed four acres, and on the two acres previously sown I spread one hundred and fifty bushels of leached ashes, and sowed it with millet and hay seed; and I obtained four tons of millet. I planted one acre with potatoes; it yielded about thirty bushels, having suffered severely from the drought. The remainder of the lot is not fully subdued; but I hope, by continuing to plough, I shall get it in good order. The lot will be seeded down and mown until it is well swarded, and then fed as a pasture.

I have not kept any account of the expense, as I have done the work as I had leisure, and have not thought, until recently, of entering it for premium; but I feel satisfied it will eventually pay good interest. In 1843-4-5 I subdued four or five acres