MARSHES AND liOGS. 17 



existence of iiny extensive sand wastes. The clevastiitinL;' inllnenccs 

 which have been brouj^ht to l)ear upon the forested dune areas within 

 historic times have resulted in the extensixe ar(>as of loosely bound 

 sands which, with the exception of the brows of the shiftinu" dunes, are 

 for the most part subject to wind erosion. This renders tlie latter 

 system of natural reclamation most important at the present time. It 

 may be doubted if this system of natural reclamation would be able to 

 reforest the extensive wasjtes of sand were it not for the artilicial 

 reclamation processes which have recently been inau«;urated. 



MARSHES AND BOOS. 



The accumulatioji of sand incident to the formation of the sand 

 hooks or spits has caused consiilerable areas of salt marshes to be 

 developed (PI. I). The shifting- sands have prevented the establish- 

 ment of any natural drainage s^'stem, and as a residt there are exten- 

 sive areas of ponds aiul marshes ])etween the dune ranj^es. These two 

 processes have been the cause of the existence of extensive marsh and 

 bog lands throughout the area. The sand hook which exists at the 

 extreme point of the Cape inclosing the harbor is bordered by an 

 extensive salt marsh. The typical marginal species is saltwort {Sali- 

 cornia amhigua). The characteristic grasses of the salt marsh are the 

 salt reed grass (SjHcrthia polystac/ii/a) and the salt meadow grass 

 {Sjjartina paten-s). These grasses constitute the bulk of the salt-marsh 

 hay cut for the local market. 



The salt marsh at the head of the old race run at the northwest 

 corner of the sand areas is being gradually tilled in l)y tide and wind 

 deposits. The Salicornia-Juncus-Scirpus formation gives way to 

 extensive areas of cranberr}^ {Oxycoccus wacrocarpxis). 



Clapps Pond, one of the fresh-water ponds and marshes lying 

 between the dune ranges, presents over a considerable portion of its. 

 surface a sphagnum bog society. Among the characteristic species 

 maybe mentioned Sphagnum aoutifolium (?), pitcher plant (/SWt«- 

 cenia piapnirea), Kalmla cmgustlfoJia^ and Xolisma lujiistrina. The 

 margins of the bog are shallow and are rapidl}- giving way to the 

 encroaching forest. Young pitch pines were noted as extending for a 

 considerable distance into the margin of the bog. 



In the low, moist areas between the nonforested dune ranges the 

 cranberry is dominant, occupying large areas to the exclusion of other 

 species. These areas are surrounded b}^ a scattered growth of Gyperus 

 grayi and Carex silicea. The condition indicated is not permanent, 

 for if undisturbed the woody growth eventuall}' dominates to the 

 exclusion of the above-named species and the forest condition ulti- 

 mately develops. The improvement and utilization of the cranberry 

 bogs often necessitate the removal of large nimibers of bushes which 



30160— No. 65—0-1 2 



