476 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



ments until the marsh migrants are eliminated, typifies that of 

 many other communities. 



h. The hackensack meadow probeEm. 



The large area of swamp land known as the Hackensack 

 Meadow, extending from Snake Hill northward beyond Hack- 

 ensack, was thought to be a prolific source of mosquito breeding 

 and was systematicall}?- investigated at different times in the year. 



The first inspection was made early in April and was begun in 

 the low lying regions to the north of the Overpeck Creek. At 

 this time the entire area w^as flooded by the incessant rains and 

 high tides, so it was impossible for mosquitoes to breed any- 

 where. The whole meadow land south to Snake Hill was found 

 to be flooded in the same way, so the systematic work was aban- 

 doned until the surface water had drained off. 



Later in the season the work was again commenced, beginning, 

 same as last time, in the vicinity of Nordhoff. The meadow was 

 overgrown Avith cat-tails and mostly covered with water and no 

 trace of breeding was found. In the lowlands and small wood- 

 land areas adjoining the meadow, conditions were somewhat dif- 

 ferent; here, in the woodland, pools filled by rains had formed 

 in the depressions and some larvae were found in all, while the 

 surface water in the lowlands contained small larvae in all its 

 parts. But unless there should be rain to keep filling these de- 

 pressions, they would dry up in a very few days and all larvae 

 would perish. 



On both sides of the Overpeck Creek south to the junction of 

 the Hackensack River, the meadow w^as all covered with cat-tails 

 and at least four or five inches of water and harbored not a single 

 larva. A considerable border of mixed water vegetation grew 

 at the edges as it neared the highlands, but this too was covered 

 with water and contained no larvae. Occasionally an isolated 

 pool, that really had no connection with the meadow, would be 

 found containing larvae. 



Along the Hackensack River, between Little Ferry and Cherry 

 Hill, are small swampy areas and all are covered with cat-tails 

 except the usual diversified vegetation at the borders; in no place 

 were any larvae found except at one small point at Cherry Hill 

 where the cat-tails die out. 



Southward, the whole meadow from Little Ferry to Snake 

 Hill is covered with cat-tails and harbors no larvae; ditches cut 

 through it in all directions and it covers at every tide. In many 

 places the farmers mow the meadow reeds for cattle bedding and 



