280 On Salt Marsh. 



We prefer, however, having grass seed sown thick, 

 immediately on the bank being finished, and afterwards 

 at proper seasons of the year ; — then to put on as many 

 cattle as we can obtain, even for the most trifling com- 

 pensation — our object being to turn the whole into graz- 

 ing ground. 



The foregoing view of the subject is taken upon a 

 scale of several hundred or thousand acres; and, in 

 closing these general remarks, I beg leave to repeat, 

 that the elevation of the marsh, the rise and fall of tides, 

 and the quality of the alluvion, are the most important 

 inquiries to be made, before a great work is commenced. 

 I feel more zeal to make an impression on these points, 

 having lately heard of a project for enclosing a large bo- 

 dy, where the rise and fall of tide are but two feet. In 

 this case I lament to say, the marsh will never bear grain 

 or fresh grass, though the salt grass will be improved by 

 ditches : and that in three years the meadow will be, as 

 before the bank was made, regulated by the tide. 



I now take leave to offer some opinions on the ma- 

 nagement of a small piece of salt marsh, after it is en- 

 closed and well drained ; because this will fix our atten- 

 tion to the mode of culture, without carrying us into the 

 region of consequences attending a large body together. 



Let it be supposed that ten acres of salt marsh, com- 

 pletely enclosed and drained, are to be put down in grain 

 as soon as possible. Also, that ten other acres of such 

 marsh are to be put into grass without delay. With re- 

 spect to that destined for grain, I would recommend that 

 it should be left to settle, for the first year ; whema great 

 crop of salt grass or sedge may be gathered ; for in the 



