Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-08
Salt lIRy.

The salt medows are strip of land
from seven to eight miles wide, stretch
ing for a distance of many miles along
the coast of New Jersey. 1t is over
grown with short grass, from which the
salt hay is cut. So low is this strip of
country, that the tide runs over it for
distance Of several miles; and this
flow and ebb of the tide has made it as
level as floor
The soil is so thin, that in walking
over it, you see and feel it shaking and
quaking beneath your feet Tricky
scattered over it are openings in the
earth-many having depth OF six or
seven feet, and measuring four or five
feet across. They diminish in size till
they become as small as an ordinary
sized water pail. They are full to the
top with water, while floating on the
surface, is covering of dried grass or
sage that the tide brings in.
SO uncertain is the depth Of soil be-
meath the salt meadows, that it is only
for distance of n mile and half, or
two, that n carriage can venture, with
out running the risk of going to slimy
and watery bottom beneath.
Many of the old people relate, that
the part of it which Will just bear the
weight of light carriage now, has
been as unsafe as that portion nearer
the sea. Undoubtedly it is all settling
down, to become just as firm as the in
land.
1t is conjectured that what is now
the salt meadow, vas once the bottom of
the sea, and from the comparatively
short time in which the outer edge has
become stable and firm, it is probable
the sea has receded within the historic
period.
When the grass on the salt meadows
reaches its maximum growth, which is
about September, the farmer watches,
not the prophetic clouds that he may
"make hay while the sun Shines but
he must be on the field to take advan-
tage of the ebbing tide No sooner has
1t flowed Oft from the meadow, than
they fall to their work of moving.
The grass is so hard and tough, that it
requires the exercise of strong arms to
bring it to the ground. When it is
cut, they Immediately begin raking,
and prepare to stack it. not waiting for
1t to dry, for in a few hours the return
tide would give it a soaking, carry it
out INTO the ocean, regardless of the
hungry cattle that would be wanting to
eat it the next winter; but the hay
makers anticipate the return of the
relentless tide, and immediately fall to
work and carry the hay on poles to the
place of stacking.
The first thing done by these jolly
hay makers is to draw cuts, and see
who is the unlucky one whose lot it is
to go behind the load, for great is the
fun of the foremost one, who at last
succeeds, by much contriving and
twisting, to bsguile his unwary com
panions into the treacherous salt holes.
The hay being stacked, it is left un-
til the next winter, when Jack Frost
will cougeal, in his icy fingers, the tide
water, before it has time to get ont of
his reach and return again t. the sea
The meadows viii be frozen over.
The waiting farmer then comes with
his horses and wagons to gather home
his hay He drives ON to the ice,
which, Judging frola the appearance OF
it, is strong enough to be secure. 1t
is hollow beneath the ice, aud the
rumbling of the wagons over this great
drum of nature. sounds like the rolling
of thunder. The wagons are racked.
like those used in hauling barrels.
The filling up of these goes on bmskly.
1t is exhilarating work; occasionally,
however it is interrupted by the foun
dering of horse, which has gone
through the ice into a salt hole below
The attempts of the unfortunate animal
to get ont, only sluk him deeper into
the hole He soon quietly submits
himself to his fate, and he then finds
his owner coming to the rescue. 4
| rope Is taken, uoos IS made at one
end, aud 1t IS slipped over the head
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