304 



THE MANAGEMENT OF MARSH LANDS 



could produce all the cabbage, onions, celery and mint needed by 

 the whole United States. 3 In the eight North Central States 4 

 alone there are 15,000,000 acres of marsh and swamp lands most 

 of which are capable of being drained and utilized for agricultural 

 purposes. It is plain, therefore, that all marsh and swamp lands 

 cannot possibly be utilized for trucking and gardening, but may be 

 suitably used in growing general farm crops (Fig. 203). 



FIQ. 203. Approximate number of acres on peat land that can be worked by one man in 

 different crops. (U. S. D. A.) 



FIQ. 204. Farming marsh lands along extensive lines. Four years from swamp. Hogs 

 in rape. (North Carolina.) 



On tough turf breakings buckwheat and flax are commonly 

 grown to subdue the sod. On pastured marshes, particularly, corn 

 is frequently grown as the first crop. Crops for marsh lands are 

 mentioned in the table on next page, together with the advan- 

 tages and disadvantages in growing them. 



3 United States Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin 701. 



4 Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and 

 Missouri. 



