32 Spartina Problems 



reason to suppose that the saltings built up by Spartina would degenerate 

 or yield up the mud which had been accreted. The Spartina would have 

 done its work. 



During the summer of 1919 a certain number of Spartina plants 

 have been washed out of the mud of Poole Harbour and drifted down 

 to the mouth. As these plants are quite intact they can only have been 

 loosened by lateral erosion — due probably to some migrating creek 

 undercutting one of the meadows. This is an ordinary occurrence on 

 every salt marsh and cannot be made the ground for supposing that 

 any general disappearance of Spartina is foreshadowed. 



Near the shore line Spartina often comes into relation with Scirpus 

 maritimus, Juncus maritimus and J . Gerardi, the meadows closing in 

 and cutting off the free connection of these plants with open waters. 

 Cases have been observed (e.g. to the west of Fitzworth Point, Poole 

 Harbour) where Scirpus thus surrounded is dying wholesale — a result 

 which may be due to competition, though it is premature to dogmatise. 

 On the other hand where Spartina meets Juncus Gerardi (as at the head 

 of Brands Bay, Poole Harbour) the latter, to judge from appearances, 

 seems quite capable of holding its own. 



From this slight sketch of the ecology of Spartina it is evident much 

 remains to be done in the way of field observations of all sorts. Not only 

 are the details of the life history largely unknown — it is doubtful if the 

 history of a single plant of Spartina has been traced from the seedling 

 or gemmule stage to the established clump. The relative importance 

 played in distribution by seed and detached vegetative fragments has 

 still to be ascertained. 



It is evident that intensive work of this kind can only be done 

 locally by persons on the spot. From the special nature of the habitat 

 Spartina studies are an acquired taste. Every visit to a clump requires 

 the use of mud boards on the feet, whilst the occurrence in these waters 

 of four tides a day circumscribes opportunity of access. 



Great value attaches to the systematic records of the spread of 

 Spartina in Poole Harbour which Mr R. V. Sherring has undertaken. 

 It is much to be hoped that his copious notes and photographic survey 

 of the yearly advance may be published in collected form. 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS. 



The appearance on our shores of a new and vigorous plant like 

 Spartina with its great capacity for accreting mud and its promise of 

 indefinite spread raise the vital question of its probable effect on navi- 



