446 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
for some time on the higher tussocks.4° I have not determined 
the exact cause of the death of these forms, but presumably it 
is due to the plasmolysis of the root hairs, and consequent loss 
of ability to absorb water, followed by a drying up. To this, 
of course, may be added some positively poisonous action of 
salt upon the protoplasm. The tide deposits layers of the 
rich mud, and upon this, while undiked, there tends to spring up 
a large development of the Salicornetum. In particular, there 
appears during the process of tiding an open growth of Suaeda, 
Salicornia, and Atriplex, all of which grow large and luxuriant. 
Of these the Suaeda appears to become most abundant, and is a 
large, diffuse, straggling plant quite superior to its small form on 
the river banks. The Salicornia also grows very luxuriantly, 
spreading diffusely in this situation. With these plants comes 
in some sedge, though I have not noticed that it becomes very 
abundant or luxuriant. Such appears to be the natural condi- 
tion of marsh in reclamation. When the dikes are restored the 
first phenomenon observable is the large increase in size and 
abundance of these forms. They fill up the ground, and the 
Atriplex in particular grows even waist high. The remarkable 
luxuriance of the members of the Salicornetum under these 
conditions shows how far they are, upon the marshes, from 
occupying their optimum situation, from which they must be 
kept by the dominance of the other associations, a subject of 
much importance in connection with the nature of competition. 
But along with the increase in size, other forms immediately begin 
to come in, especially some members of the Staticetum, the 
Spartina juncea, Triglochin, and especially the Puccinellia, and the 
Hordeum, which is ubiquitous in such positions. Closely after 
these, however, comes the couch, and right after it the Agrostis. 
Such is the condition at the end of the first year, after which 
the timothy follows; and in the fourth year it becomes abundant. 
As the new forms come in the older tend to die out, so that 
finally, after a succession of forms answering to the natural 
succession in space on the marsh, the timothy takes natural 
46This resistance is taken advantage of by some farmers, who admit the tide 
sparingly and are able to obtain some renewal without totally losing an annual crop- 
But it is not considered a profitable method. 
ee Ce 
