36 Spartina Problems 



So far as we know analyses have not been published, nor proper 

 feeding trials conducted. It is desirable that both these matters should 

 be put through and the results made known. On the coast of New 

 England related species of Spartina are regularly harvested and the hay 

 fed to cattle 1 . 



4. As a Raw Material for Paper. 



The presence of a tall growing grass like Spartina in pure stands of 

 almost unlimited extent suggested the possibility of its employment as 

 a paper-making material. A preliminary sample was submitted to the 

 late Mr Clayton Beadle, the well-known paper expert, in July 1916, and 

 as a result of his encouraging report steps were taken to collect larger 

 samples for trial at a paper mill. 



With the approval and assistance of the Poole Harbour Board large 

 cuts of Spartina were made in October 1916 and in March 1917. These 

 were forwarded to Messrs Thomas and Green, Paper Makers, who con- 

 verted them into paper at their mills at Wooburn in Bucks. 



The October cut was sent green and wet and after washing at the 

 mills, was boiled wet. 



The March sample was dried as well as the conditions at the time 

 allowed and was boiled dry. 



Both samples contained a good deal of mud which could not be 

 altogether removed by mechanical means and persisted as black specks 

 in the paper. 



By the summer of 1917 labour being unobtainable at Poole, a squad 

 of boys and girls from Oldfeld School, Swanage, was organised by 

 Mr B. K. Hunter for an August Spartina camp at Ower on the 

 Studland side of Poole Harbour. This camp was repeated in August 

 1918. 



The work of these camps consisted in mowing and bringing the grass 

 ashore, washing it and picking out the dead stalks of previous seasons, 

 transporting it to the drying ground where it was spread out in the sun, 

 and when dry sacking it and getting it on to the rail. 



As these two cuts from the Ower camp do not together make an 

 economic sample for boiling (about 4 tons dry weight) they are being 

 kept in store till the balance can be sent. In 1919 it was not possible 

 to hold a Spartina camp but it is hoped in 1920 that the job may be 

 completed. 



1 F. Lamson-Scribner, Grasses of Salt Marshes, Yearbook U.S. Depl. of Agric. 1895, 

 p. 324. 



