SALT MARSHES. 21 



carry a saw mill some three months in a year, and does carry 

 one situated about two miles above the marsh. 



Previous to the building of this dyke in 1866, nearly two-thirds 

 of the marsh it encloses had been dyked for many years in separate 

 parcels, according to ownership, from six to twenty acres ; but 

 getting out of repair, and the lands deteriorating by neglect in 

 this particular, the enterprise of 1866 was undertaken. Below 

 this tract, on the northeastern side of Machias West river, there is 

 another tract of about sixty acres, which has been dyked over 

 thirty years. The dykes enclosing this, average ten feet in height 

 — being nearly twenty feet where they cross the large creeks 

 emptying into the main river — and average twelve feet at the base 

 by two feet on top. These dykes extend up and down the river 

 about three quarters of a mile. They were built of marsh mud and 

 sods. A small brook of fresh water runs through this tract. 



Originally on the the lower grounds and sides of the creeks a 

 coarse, tubular grass, commonly known as 'thatch' grew abun- 

 dantly. On the higher grades, a flat grass grew, quite good for 

 stock, with brown-top intermixed, while near the upland, brown- 

 tojD and clover are intermixed with flat grass. Upon being 

 reclaimed by dykes, in the course of two or three years, brown-top 

 chiefly, and clover mixed with flat-grass, took the place of the 

 original crops. No persistent effort has been made to cultivate 

 these lands after being dyked. Occasionally in times past an 

 •efibrt in this way has been undertaken but without any encouraging 

 success. The roughest parts are generally plowed over and 

 harrowed, (when the salt has somewhat leached out) and seeded 

 down with oats, which have grown very well. Nothing beyond 

 this is done. 



The best kind of marsh lands for dyking are those which are 

 interlaced the most with small creeks, as by means of them the 

 drainage becomes more rapid and perfect. No manure is used. 

 When moss begins to grow and extend on the marsh, as it does 

 sometimes after four or five years, the salt water is let on to the 

 tract so as to overflow it. This kills the moss effectually and the 

 grass crops are restored. No advantage is gained by an overflow 

 of fresh water as manure. It may aid in freshening the newly 

 dyked lands. By dyking these marshes the crops are considered 

 here to have nearly or quite tripled in value." Mr. Owen Went- 

 worth of Kennebunk, says : 



" According to my best judgment, I have dyked about twenty- 



