106 College of forestry 
plants, we approach a stage—as can be observed in the 
Montezuma marshes for example — where the building up 
has gone so far that the soil lies habitually exposed above 
the water table, is firmer and by reason of exposure and 
aeration the organic stuff is more thoroughly decomposed. 
Such ground becomes, then, virtually a new terrain inviting 
an invasion of plants of different requirements as to the soil 
status — especially as respects the moisture relation — than 
the species of the marsh vegetation (cat-tails, ete.). Certain 
erasses and sedges constitute the dominant element in this 
invading vegetation and with them comes to be associated a 
group of species large enough and of such diversity of form 
as to give this society a complex make-up not approached in 
the simple associations preceding. 
The occurrence of marsh meadows in New York is com- 
mon enough, but because of the forage value of the grasses, 
these meadows have been subject to the factor of human in- 
terference in such degree that it becomes a little difficult to 
make them fit into the scheme of succession. For example, 
after the removal of swamp forest, a marsh meadow may 
become established. In a way, this is simply enlarging the 
pasturage area of the farm. In the Mohawk Valley many 
pastures are virtually marsh meadows, some of them covered 
with sedge tussocks, showing the nearness to marsh condi- 
tions. Striking examples of marsh meadow on a large scale 
are shown in the St. Lawrence valley where streams from 
the Adirondacks emerge upon the gently sloping plain — 
e. g., Norwood to Ogdensburg. The “ Beaver Meadows” of 
the Adirondacks and the “ Vlaies” are really marsh- 
meadows, although the tendency toward Sphagnum (moss) 
and heath shrub development in these, rather relates them to 
the category of bog societies. It is instructive to note in 
this connection that the practice of cutting the grass for hay 
on these meadows serves to emphasize and prolong the grass- 
land status. Thus in the report of the State Forestry Com- 
