266 On Salt Marsh. 



Grass:" it has a succulent root, resembling that of a 

 leek ; it takes hold two or three inches below the surface 

 of the marsh ; the blade is about a foot high, is broad, 

 tender and nutritious ; its verdure is nearly perennial ; 

 hay is often made of it in January ; it does not grow 

 close ; it flourishes in a rich black soil, composed of 

 the finest particles of mud, and in places where the 

 marsh has not raised quite to the height of ordinary 

 tides. From this cause, sedge marsh (unimproved) 

 is generally too soft for pasture, and the crop too 

 liable to be wet, or carried away by the water, for hay- 

 making on a large scale. The soil is strong, and from a 

 foot to three feet below its surface, begins to be com- 

 pact ; the same kind of soil produces the three- square 

 grass, so well known as to need no description. This 

 marsh becomes excellent, after being banked a few years; 

 but in considering the propriety of enclosing it, the ad- 

 venturer must examine carefully, to ascertain whether the 

 supra-soil or spungy substance be so _ thick, as to fall 

 greatly when decomposed ; the danger being in its set- 

 tling so low that the back water, from creeks or from the 

 clouds, will not fall into the bay or river ; in which case it 

 is worthless for fresh meadow, and worse than in its natu- 

 ral state. The rise and fall of tide must, of course, be ta- 

 ken into consideration ; for although, where the rise and 

 fall are six or seven feet, there will be no injury from the 

 settling of the marsh as much as three or four feet, the 

 same may not be said when the rise and fall of the river 

 are only three or four feet. The last of these grasses 

 that I shall mention, is called " Salt Grass :" it grows on 

 the highest marshes of rich blue mud, its roots reaching 

 the solid soil, at two or three inches below the surface, 



