18 



a true average in different parts of the county to place it for that time 

 at sixteen dollars. 



The expense of cutting, curing, and storing a ton of Engiisii hay 

 in ordinary circumstances is rated at two days and a half of a man's 

 labor. 



Salt Hay. A large amount of salt hay is cut in the county. 

 The marshes in Saugus, Lynn, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, 

 and Salisbury, are extensive and productive. 



The grasses produced on the salt marshes are various in kind and 

 value. I prefer to give the common names, though these names may 

 be regarded as local and provincial. 



Black Grass — deemed the best product ; grows on the higher 

 parts of the marsh, where it is only occasionally flooded by the tide ; 

 it is often thick and heavy, and it is desirable that it should be cu^ 

 early. When well cured it is much relished by cattle ; and deemed 

 of almost equal value as the best English hay. I have seen this 

 grass growing luxuriantly high up on the upland, where the seed was 

 dropt from the cart ; and it would be well worth the experiment to 

 test its value as a cultivated grass in such locations. A farmer in 

 Ipswich is of opinion, that if this grass is not cut very early it should 

 be cut very late, after the season of the fly has passed, which is apt 

 to impregnate it, and occasion maggots in the mow, offensive to cat- 

 tle. Other farmers deem this a matter of little moment. The cattle 

 themselves ought to be judges in the case. 



The next grass is the Red grass or Fox grass, a very fine reedy 

 grass, abundant and excellent. 



The next is Goose grass, deenied excellent but not abundant. 

 Sheep it is said will entirely destroy this grass, if suffered to feed on 

 the marshes. 



Branch Grass, a short reedy grass, resembling much the fox 

 grass, and by some persons pronounced the same ; it branches much 

 and from this circumstance derives its name ; it is not abundant but 

 the hay is much valued. 



Sedge, a pointed long flat-leaf, grows in low places and on the 

 sides of creeks, much valued when not too large. 



Thatch, a grass differing little from sedge, which grows in creeks 

 as high as the tide rises ; and is cut principally for litter or manure. 



