1903] VEGETATION OF THE BAY OF FUNDY MARSHES 291 
that of course varies greatly, as the table on page 286 shows, 
with the degree of reclamation, etc., and it is this variation which 
is responsible for the profound differences in the vegetation of 
the different parts of the marshes. The water of the sea, which 
has everywhere laid down these marshes, and countless times has 
overflowed every part of them, must be very nearly the pure salt 
water of an open sea coast, that is, it must contain near 3 per cent. 
of salt. This is not only indicated by my tests (unhappily few 
and crude) of the density of selected samples (tested with an 
hydrometer), but also by the fact that the fresh-water streams 
of this region are comparatively insignificant in volume, and the 
swirling tides mix the fresh water thoroughly with the salt, 
preventing it from lying on the surface. Not only has every 
part of the marshes been as salt, or nearly, as the sea, but in 
places they are much salter, for, owing to the building up of the 
banks next the sea, there are many pools formed on the marshes 
into which the highest tides can run, but from which the water 
does not escape, remaining to evaporate and leave its salt. In 
many places on the unreclaimed marsh, especially between 
rivers, such pools exist, much too salt for any vegetation except 
a few simple algae; and it is quite probable that it is such former 
pools on the now reclaimed marsh which form the poor or bald 
places, later to be mentioned, so difficult fully to reclaim. On 
the other hand, although on the reclaimed marsh no new salt is 
being added, and the salt already there is being steadily removed 
by rains, by drainage, and with the crops, it appears never to be 
entirely removed, no doubt because it is constantly being renewed 
by diffusion, aided by evaporation, from greater depths. This 
is shown both by the analyses on page 287 where even the long 
reclaimed English hay marsh is shown to contain an appreciable 
amount, and other places a considerable amount, but also by the 
fact, well known in the marsh country, that an efflorescence of 
salt (‘salt enough to taste,” the residents say) is to be seen at 
times, after dry weather, on the surface of even the oldest 
reclaimed marsh. Further, the mud brought up from beneath 
the fresh-water bogs by the canal dredges, shows, as I have 
myself seen, a marked efflorescence of salt in drying. The 
