250 On Salt Marsh. 



Hoboken, Feb. 12, 1818. 



Sir, 

 We have perused, with great attention, the interesting 

 letter of Judge Peters to you, making inquiry on the sub- 

 ject of the reclamation and cultivation of salt marshes, 

 and which you were pleased to put into our hands a few 

 days ago, with a request, that we would detail the mode 

 adopted by us upon the marshes in the vicinity of New 

 York, for the information of your correspondent. This 

 we proceed to do, and shall answer the inquiries in the 

 order in which they are made. 1st. The nature and com- 

 position of the soil reclaimed ? The soil is alluvial, a 

 deep rich loam, clay, and some peat ; ten to thirty feet 

 deep ; no sand or gravel. 2d. The embankments ? 

 These are placed twenty to forty feet from the edge of 

 the river, on the firmest ground, and are sixteen feet 

 broad at their base, five feet high, and from three to four 

 feet broad at top, the sides faced with sods, cut from the 

 marsh, near the river, and the body of the bank compos- 

 ed of the best mud, well packed. 3d. Ditches, drains, 

 &c. ? Our ditches are cut four feet deep, five feet wide 

 at top, and one foot at bottom, which form prevents the 

 sides from falling off, and permits them to be scoured 

 with ease. Our drains are four feet deep ; two feet at 

 bottom, and eight feet wide at top ; but almost all our 

 ditches drain into natural creeks, which answer the pur- 

 pose of reservoirs. We make no ditches parallel with 

 the dyke, either within or without, believing that they 

 weaken the embankment, and afford a shelter for the 



