394 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



embankments prohibitive in many places, but with the introduction of 

 modem machinery this difficulty is removed and large embankments 

 can now be built at a less price per cubic yard than smaller ones. 



Another source of trouble has been the sluices. These have rarely 

 ever been large enough to serve their purpose, and have been put in in 

 such a way that man}^ of them have failed at a critical time, flooding 

 the meadows and thus destroying the work of many years. With the 

 cheapness of concrete construction, permanent structures can now 

 be made at a reasonable cost, and such structures of unquestioned 

 capacity should be constructed in all embankments made. If care is 

 taken to secure a proper foundation such tide gates will be penna- 

 nent and efficient. 



In many places complaints are made of the ravages of muskrats. 

 It is stated that they burrow in the embankment and cause it to give 

 way during periods of high tide. This trouble can be greatly lessened, 

 if not entirel}^ avoided, by keepmg the embankment free from a rank 

 orrowth of vegetation. It should be mowed at least twice a year and 

 the material cut at once removed. This will destroy the harbor for 

 these animals, and the damage they do can be more readily detected 

 and repaired. 



Where an embankment is constructed by a number of landowners 

 there seems to be a division of responsibility, and no one looks after 

 it and it does not receive the care necessary for its protection and 

 security. 



If instructions given in this report are closely followed as to the 

 location, construction, and care of the embankments there should be 

 fewer failures in the future. 



WHY SO LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. 



It has been fully demonstrated by the work done in Nova Scotia 

 and along the Atlantic coast that many of our marine marshes can 

 be reclaimed and made profitable for agriculture. Such being the 

 fact, it is natural to inquire why so little progress has been made in 

 this work. There are many reasons why more work of this kind has 

 not been done, among which are: 



(1) To do such work economically it must be carried on upon a 

 large scale. This requires a considerable outlay of money or labor, 

 or both, and the individual ownership of large areas of marsli land 

 or cooperation among several small owners. Tliis outlay must all 

 be made and two or more years elapse before tlie marsh will yield 

 any returns. American farmers and capitalists prefer, as a rule, to 

 work for results that come more quickly or to invest in securities that 

 are convertible into cash on short notice. This lack of means lias held 

 back many persons who are fully aware of the fertihty of the land 



