shallow open drains are dug and the soil slowly dried out. When the 

 first plowing is done the peat is often wet and boggy, so that it is impos- 

 sible to drive a horse across the bog. Ingenious farmers in California 

 attach a board to the feet of the horse the first time a bog is plowed. 

 Though most horses are not used to working with " tule shoes," as 

 they are called, they soon learn the proper swing to give the feet and 

 the work of plowing goes on nicely. 



The judgment of the farmer must be the guide as to the best method 

 to be used to bring the land into good tilth. As a rule burning is a 

 waste of organic matter which in the later years of cultivation will be 

 needed. However, it is frequently better policy to burn off troublesome 

 sod and trust to later stable or green manuring to keep the supply of 

 organic matter up to the standard. 



As a rule salt marshes are well supplied with lime in the form of 

 shells. Such soils in decaying will not need to be limed. Some- 

 times, however, the shells are not present and the soil is either acid in 

 its natural condition or soon becomes so through the decomposition of 

 the organic matter. Lime is then necessary to correct the acidity. 

 Either shell marl or shell lime is usually obtainable at low cost near 

 the coast. 



Sulphide of iron is sometimes present in marsh lands and by its 

 decomposition gives off hydrogen sulphide gas and soluble iron 

 compounds or sulphuric acid, all of which are harmful to plants. 

 Thorough aeration will remove the hydrogen sulphide, but the poison- 

 ous iron compounds are more difficult to get rid of. Weathering and 

 aeration with the application of lime, both as carbonate and sulphate, 

 are the best methods known for the correction of the toxic effect of iron 

 in the soil. The iron is most often found only in spots and small areas 

 which slowly yield to cultivation. Very seldom does it cover large 

 areas. 



CROPS DURING RECLAMATION. 



As has been stated before, the easiest method of reclaiming the salt 

 marsh is to make the best use possible of the native salt grasses and to 

 allow the tame grasses to come in as the salt is removed by drainage. 

 This process can be accelerated by seeding with small quantities of 

 tame grass timothy, red-top, and the rye grasses are all good on the 

 parts of the marsh which contain the least salt. Three years will prob- 

 ably be the maximum time required to get a stand of tame grass. 

 If the time needed to complete this natural reclamation is too long the 

 process can be hastened by irrigation to assist in washing out the salt, 

 or salt-resisting crops may be planted. Asparagus, onions, sorghum, 

 and beets withstand large quantities of salt in the soil, and if the 

 soil is such as to be acceptable to any of these crops they will prove 

 profitable. 



