392 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



and the system of internal drainage. The sah must be dissolved in 

 water and that water drained away. This process can be accelerated 

 by judicious irrigation if fresh water is at hand; but flooding, unless 

 the water can be promptly removed, would be of but little use. TMiere 

 irrigation is practiced, small amounts of water applied at frequent 

 intervals will be found most efficient. While this process of sweet- 

 ening is going on the salt grass should be frequently cut and removed, 

 as its growth takes up a large amount of saline matter. As fast as 

 the salt is removed, if the land is desired for meadow or pasturage, it 

 should be seeded with tame grass, either herd's grass, red top, or 

 timothy. It improves the meadow to have it closely pastured with 

 sheep or cattle, as it compacts the soil and hastens the destruction of 

 the coarse grass and weeds; but stock has a tendency to fill the 

 ditches, making frequent cleanings necessary, as they must be kept 

 open so as to allow the free flow of water. 



If it is desired to put the land in cultivation certain crops that 

 "wdthstand a large amount of salt, as onions, sorghum, antl beets, may 

 be cultivated and yield a good revenue. Wliere a forage crop for 

 cattle is required, sorghum, sowed broadcast and cut just at the time 

 the seed ripens, will be found very profitable. 



Salt marsh soils are often well supplied with lime in the form of 

 shells, but when these are not present and the soil is acid, or becomes 

 so through the decomposition of the grass roots, lime must be added 

 to correct this acidity. In all cases it would be wise to send samples 

 of the soil to the Bureau of Soils, United States Department of 

 Agriculture, and have an anatysis made to determine the proper 

 treatment. 



The best method of subduing a rank marsh soil is not fully deter- 

 mined. In Europe and some parts of America it has been the 

 custom to burn the sod to a depth of 10 or 12 inches. This practice 

 is a great waste of organic matter and is not to be recommended. 

 Clearing the land of all vegetation and giving it a chance to become 

 thoroughly aerated is the first step to be taken. At present the 

 judgment of the farmer must be his guide as to the best method of 

 bringing these marshes into good tilth. In some localities where the 

 practice has been tried it is claimed that the turning under of a heavy 

 green crop in June or July will hasten the rotting of the sod. Others 

 claim that late fall plowing is best and tluit all vegetation should be 

 removed before turning the land over. In other places it is claimed 

 that better results may be secured by scarring the land with a disk 

 harrow and not turning it over. All, however, are agreed that 

 sliallow j)l()wing is mofc cHicient in i-t'duciug the sod to a ^\"()I•kable 

 state. 



