220 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



by lowering the level of the subsoil water, and thereby 

 increasing the chances of a more rapid decay of the accumu- 

 lated vegetable matter, which serves still, generally, as the 

 main support of the former. Although various grasses made 

 their appearance spontaneously here and there, to a limited 

 extent, a dense vegetation of everlasting ( Gnaphalium poly- 

 cephalum, Mich.), and other upland plants, as a general rule, 

 continue to spread rapidly over an extensive area of the 

 reclaimed marsh-meadows. A large proportion of the latter, 

 which had been sown to grass in previous years, — by sowing 

 the seed merely upon the original sward, which had for sev- 

 eral seasons produced a most excellent crop, — succumbed to 

 the late drought, and proved a total failure ; a small portion 

 of them only yielded good, stout grass. 



Wherever the lands had been drained, either along the 

 river, by natural advantages, or by ditches, with outlets to- 

 wards the latter, the grass lands have produced, as a general 

 rule, remarkably well, provided the surface portion of the 

 soil remained compact ; whilst in those cases where the imme- 

 diate support of the old sod has acquired a spongy condition, 

 the late severe drought has not only destroyed the expected 

 grass crop, but also largely killed the roots. It seems but 

 reasonable to assume, that the winter frost will operate in 

 the same direction, and thus increase the serious effects of the 

 late drought. Results like these will attain, from year to 

 year, larger proportions, until the soil, in consequence of 

 ploughing and harrowing, shall have become sufficiently homo- 

 geneous and compact to start, not only a vigorous grass growth, 

 but to protect it also more efficiently against the extremes of 

 the seasons. A compact soil, in a good mechanical condition, 

 aside from an efficient drainage, is one of the essential require- 

 ments for the development of a healthy, dense sod. 



All the grass thus far grown upon the marshes has been 

 raised, either by sowing the seeds without any previous prep- 

 aration directly upon the old sod, or, in more exceptional 

 cases, after harrowing merely the latter, before seeding. 

 Since the construction of the dike, several hundred acres 

 have been cultivated for grass in that manner. In the major- 

 ity of cases, as stated above, the crops have soon failed to be 

 satisfactory, either on account of a deficient drainage, or in 



