13 



The salt marshes in the vicinity of Newbury contain lar^e quanti- 

 ties of fox, black and branch grasses, together with the coarse Ihatch 

 along the creeks. The predominating grass on the marshes between 

 Lynn and Boston is the branch grass. This presented an excellent 

 growth, when in full blossom the middle of August. 



About Marshfield (Marshfield Hills) the so-called prick ear or flat 

 sage occupies large areas, with some fox grass, and edges of black 

 grass. On the "great marshes" at Barnstable, large areas of fox 

 grass were seen, with considerable quantities of flat sage in wet 

 places out towards the shore. Comparatively small areas of branch- 

 grass were noticed. The usual edge of black grass was seen. 



Harvestivg salt hay. The average yield of the marshes is from 

 one-half to one ton per acre. The tides govern the time when the 

 grass can be cut. They generally fill the creeks to within a foot of 

 the surface of the marsh twice daily, and during very high tides the 

 marsh is entirely submerged. Advantage has to be taken for cut- 

 ting the hay of the week of low tides, which occur usually during the 

 month of August. Considerable areas are now mown by machine. 

 To prevent the horse from becoming mired, he is fitted with bog 

 shoes made of hard wood, ten inches in diameter, clamped on to the 

 hoof by a thumb nut in front. According to J. Q. P2vans* three 

 men and a horse will cut from eight to ten acres per day, the two 

 men cutting with scythes about the edges and soft places, and the 

 machine covering the rest. The grass after being cut is not turned^, 

 but allowed to dry ju'^t as it falls. After from two to three days 

 cutting, the entire force begins to rake up each afternoon, using the 

 horse-rake as far as possible. The hay is first brought into small 

 cocks, and these cocks poled into large stacks holding about twa 

 tons each. 



The stacks are raised about two feet from the surface of the marsh, 

 by being set on a number of stakes driven into the marsh. These 

 stakes taken collectively are known as a staddle,and prevent the hay 

 from getting wet or being carried away when high tides flood the 

 marshes. The low tide period is generally of such short duration that 

 as a rule it is not practicable to cut and remove the grass to high 

 ground for drying and then run the risk of having it injured by bad 

 weather. Should the weather during the harvest week prove bad,, 

 or should it be wet the first few weeks after cutting, the quality of 

 the hay will be considerably impaired. 



* Report State Board of Agriculture, 1894, p. 50. 



