1903] VEGETATION OF THE BAY OF FUNDY MARSHES 445 
ditches containing stagnant and hence saltish water, just within 
the dikes, occupied by Spartina stricta. Above this Atriplex 
comes often, if not usually, a band of common roadside weeds, 
a part of the Cnicetum, while above it is the band and cap of 
almost invariable couch. This arrangement is sometimes differ- 
ent, and I have even seen a case where the top of the dike 
was occupied entirely by Atriplex, with a band of couch on 
each face of the dike below it, and other variants occur, the 
whole being much influenced by the position and age of the 
dike. 
We pass now to consider another important phase of this sub- 
ject, namely the natural succession of the plants on new marsh 
which is being reclaimed from the sea. It is rarely nowadays 
that a new piece of marsh is diked and reclaimed from the 
beginning, but what is practically the same thing occurs in 
numerous places, where the marsh is being renewed by the tide. 
hen a piece or body of marsh shows a lessening of fertility, 
either through the growth of bog or other causes, the dikes are 
broken down and the tide admitted. The higher tides usually 
flow readily over it (an evidence, as I believe, of the gradual 
subsidence of the region), kill most or all of the vegetation 
upon it, and begin to deposit new mud. This is allowed to 
continue until several inches of mud have been laid down, a 
process requiring usually two or three years; then the dikes are 
-re-built, the drains are opened, and the marsh is left to itself. A 
vegetation at once springs up upon it, which goes through a 
series of changes, ending in the development in four or five years 
of the Phleumetum or best timothy grass, and without any aid 
from man beyond keeping the drains in order. This succession 
can be followed in various places and is about as follows: When 
the tide first flows upon the marsh ,the plants show very diverse 
degrees of resistance to it. The bog plants, the various woody 
bushes, the clovers and the timothy are killed at once, it is said 
by a single tide. They turn white or brown and dry up, the 
bushes turning almost black, as if scorched by fire. On the 
other hand the watergrass, the broadleaf, the browntop, show 
@ considerable degree of resistance, while the couch can stand 
