10 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



reclamation by drainage which can be utilized for the production of 

 a considerable proportion of the daily supply of vegetables required 

 in these cities. When it is also considered that the sanitary sur- 

 roundings of these cities and towns would be considerably improved 

 through the drainage of these swamps, it is a matter of wonder that 

 larger areas have not already been cleared and utilized. 



The greater proportion of the swampy lands of the North Central 

 States consists of marshes which were treeless, grass-grown prairies 

 in the early days of the settlement of this portion of the country. 

 Practically all of the large areas of such land have already been 

 drained and utilized for agriculture. It is well to mention, however, 

 in the consideration of swamp land, that thousands of miles of tile 

 drain have been laid through these marshes of the North Central 

 States, converting them into solid tillable soil of the highest fertility, 

 capable of producing from 60 to 80 bushels of corn per acre, from 

 40 to 60 bushels of oats per acre, and from 1 to 3 tons of hay. In 

 fact, many areas which are shown upon the old county maps of these 

 States as swamp-land areas now constitute some of the best and most 

 productive farms of the region. These swamps, which existed in the 

 past and are now tilled lands, constitute an excellent example of 

 what might be done with the remaining marshes of the North Cen- 

 tral and Northern States. There is no known instance of any drain- 

 age project for the reclamation of these lands, that was well planned 

 and the estimate carefully made, showing any loss to those who un- 

 dertook the work. In the majority of cases the profits derived have 

 been considerable. 



The Tidal marsh along the Atlantic and Gulf coast still remains 

 largely undrained and unutilized for agricultural production. The 

 tidal meadows in southwestern New Jersey and their reclamation 

 were described in the circular on " Meadow." There are many 

 other areas of Tidal marsh of considerable extent, from the New 

 England coast southward, which are utilized to a small extent for 

 agricultural purposes. This utilization is accomplished without 

 diking or drainage. The coarse grasses which grow upon the Tidal 

 marsh have a considerable value for the pasturing of cattle and are 

 even cut for hay. Within the New England States and in some 

 portions along the coast in New York, New Jersey, and Maryland 

 the salt-grass hay. commonly known as " bent hay," is worth about 

 $5 a ton, delivered at shipping points. 



Thousands of acres of the Tidal marsh along the Atlantic and 

 Gulf coast may be reclaimed for intensive farming when the de- 

 mand for land is sufficiently great to justify the expense involved. 

 Before it is possible to use them for the more intensive forms of 

 agriculture, it will be necessary, after the embankment and drainage 



