GREEN HARBOR MARSHES. 335 



by repeated cropping, had been sufficiently ameliorated, wheat 

 and other crops succeeded. Red clover grew well after three 

 years' cultivation. Wheat and potatoes have since taken the 

 lead among the crops, and oats and rye have fallen off to one- 

 half of their original quantity. Although almost every kind 

 of ordinary farm-crops has been successfully raised, grass- 

 lands are of late rather gaining than losing in area. Whether 

 a superior qualification of the soil for the production of 

 grasses, or a late change in the condition of the markets has 

 favored that tendency, is still a matter of controversy. 



II. — On the Salt Marshes above the Mouth of Green 

 Harbor River in the Township of Marshfield, Plym- 

 outh County, Massachusetts. 



These salt marshes are situated along the banks of Green 

 Harbor River, above Turkey Point. A dike 1,800 feet long 

 and 6| feet high, containing a sluice-gate for the discharge of 

 fresh water during low tide, has been recently built, as a pro- 

 tection against the access of the ocean near a point where the 

 uplands approach the river on both sides. The construction 

 of the dike was commenced in July, 1872, and was finished 

 at an early date in 1873. High water on a high course of 

 tide formerly covered the entire area of the marshes, from a 

 few inches to several feet in depth, but on a low course only 

 a small portion. The salt water has not overflowed the 

 reclaimed salt marsh since November, 1872. The water of 

 the river has remained about six feet below the level of the 

 meadows, except occasionally, when in consequence of heavy 

 rains it has risen, for a day or two, from one to two feet higher. 

 The area reclaimed by the dike amounts to 1,412 acres, of 

 which about 200 acres might be called fresh meadows ; 

 752 acres run along the north side of the river, and 670 acres 

 along its south side ; 100 acres on the western end of the 

 meadows are separated by a road from their main body. 



Green Harbor River extends about three miles into the 

 country, and receives, during its course, two main tribu- 

 taries and a large number of brooks and creeks, — draining 

 about 1,500 acres of salt marsh. The lower end of the river 

 is known by the name of Green Harbor. The entrance to 

 to the latter is obstructed by a sand-bar, which, at low 



