No. 4.] SALT MARSH HAY. 53 



half of the surface of the marsh, and the high tides which we 

 sometimes have cause the grass to be submerged, so we have 

 to take advantage of low tides for cutting the grass. The 

 marsh is so saturated with water that it would be impossible 

 for us to dry the hay on the marsh and cart it away. That 

 is why hay is stacked on the marsh instead of being 

 brought ashore, and we also find we can put it into stacks in 

 nmch less time than we could get it ashore. If we can get 

 it in the stack away from the tide, we can then take our 

 leisure in the months of October and November in hauling it 

 ashore. 



Question. How long does it take you to stack it ? 



Mr. Evans. Well, in my system, the first two days I 

 mow all day ; the third day I mow until noon time, and from 

 that time on use the afternoons in getting it into the stack as 

 fast as possible, — from three days to a week from the time 

 it was mowed until it is got into the stack. Early black 

 grass requires a much longer time to cure than late grass. 



Mr. Clements. The manner of curing salt hay is very 

 similar to that of curing all other hay. I remember once 

 when I was cutting some black grass there was no moisture 

 on the hay. I hauled it into the barn, but I soon found it was 

 wet. I could shake water out of it. I thought it was all 

 spoilt, but I found afterwards it was as good as any hay 

 in the barn. The salt hay we have been talking about here 

 all the afternoon comprises very many kinds of grass. That 

 which we call the black grass grows up near the uplands, 

 and blue grass, fox grass and two or three other kinds grow 

 in other situations ; and they are all diiferent as to their 

 feeding qualities. Some of it makes a very fine hay for 

 horses. I know that Mr. Edward Little used to winter a 

 great many horses on salt hay and a little grain, and brought 

 them out in good condition. It is the experience of almost 

 all Newbury farmers that they can carry their dry cattle in 

 very good condition with salt hay. Speaking of hay being 

 damaged, I remember an instance that happened to me once. 

 I had a lot of grass out on Plum Island that I cut, and 

 stacked on the meadow. The hay was put up in rather poor 

 condition, and it stood there in the stack. Next year I cut 

 the same lot again, and it was as bright as a dollar, and I 



