On reclaiming Marsh Land. 73' 



ed. There is an opinion g^enerally prevalent, that a cer- 

 tain portion of salt is beneficial to grain and grass ; may 

 Dot too great a quantity of it be also prejudicial ? I have 

 often used the pickle from my meat tubs, and with com- 

 plete success, in the destruction of the St. John's wort, 

 and ranstead, or snap dragon, where they have occasion- 

 ally appeared on my land. And I am inclined to believe 

 that alJ perfectly salt marshes, after having been in bank 

 for several years (and when the native vegetation of the soil 

 have died) become almost a barren waste, and when ex- 

 posed to the penetrating rays of the sun, their saline par- 

 ticles are extracted for some inches in depth, so that 

 distinct particles of almost pure salt may be seen on the 

 surface. Indeed, I have seen the salt in such profusion 

 \\ hen passing over the marsh, that my shoes would be 

 as white as if walking in a thick hoar frost, and I cannot 

 believe that any soil so highly impregnated with salt can 

 be rendered profitable for a series of years in either grain 

 or grass. As I know that some experimentSi^re making 

 to reclaim this highly saturated and almost useless kind 

 of property, Ivvill herewith submit my opinion as to the 

 best mode of preparing this kind of real estate, whereby 

 the owner may calculate on deriving more certain profit 

 from it than is generally received. 



So far as I have had opportunities of observing, I have 

 generally seen springs of good fresh water issuing from 

 the uplands and woods, and by the time they have 

 united their numerous rills, they will have formed a creek 

 of considerable size and depth, which in meandering 

 through the marsh, is discharged into the larger creek or 

 river through the sluices or flood gates. Now nothing 

 appears to me more rational to be done, than that the 

 farmer should make a right application of this fresh 

 water ; which to one thus situated, I consider of the 

 greatest importance. To freshen this reclaimed marsh, 



