Evening journal., 1910-07-01
MILLIONS In
SWAMP LANDS
Government Experts Say
Maryland Salt Marshes
Can be Reclaimed
FINE CROPS CAN
Be PRODUCED

All Of the swamp lands Of Maryland
both salt and fresh, can be reclaimed
and rendered productive and valuable,
is the opinion Of the experts in charge
Of drainage experiments at the De
partment Of Agriculture. Government
officials would like TO see the State IT.
self, or private enterprise in the State,
begin this work of reclamation. They
believe il would add tremendously 10
the taxable basis of Maryland as we'll
as 10 its general wealth and prosper
ity That the salt marshes of the State
are not beyond redemption has been
we'll established by the experiments Of
the department and by what has ac-
tualy been done in New Jersey, North
Carolina and other States.
docs salt marsh have a real value
from a practical standpoint and can all
salt marsh be reclaimed ?" was the
question asked by a Sun man of Mr..
A. d. Morehouse, chief office engineer
Of the Department of Drainage.
Can Reclaim Salt Marsh.
Eyes. decidedly" was the reply. "All
salt marsh may be made productive Of
an income of from $40 TO $40 per acre
annually and all salt marsh can be
made OF actual value. II takes time TO
get ride Of the saline qualities. The
reclaimed land has 10 b. sWeetened by
the rains and by fresh water, but grad
ually, IL properly reclaimed so that
the tides do not reach IL, the salt will
disappear and the land will be fruit
full. Our engineers have been expert
menting along these lines for long
time and the facts show beyond ques-
! tion that the salt marshes can be made
! productive In Delaware, New Jersey
and North Carolina II has been done
/ Drainage is not as expensive, as q
/ general thing, as irrigation and is a
simple proposition"
In a report made to the Agricultural
Department on this subject by Mr.
George M. Warren, assistant drainage
engineer, the amount of salt marsh
now wholly productive in Maryland
/ is given as lS5.650 acres "These mar
/ she's which have been built up by the
/ 3lluvial deposit of tidal streams and
rivers, are usually very productive" /"
says Mr. Warren, Timothy clover, red
top, corn, rye, potatoes, tomatoes,
strawberries, asparagus, cabbage, Gel
cry, beets, onions, melons and rice
have all shown splendid Yields Wheat
! has not done we'll on the marshes, but
this Is probably due 10 climatic con-
ditions rather than TO any deficiency
in the soil AS a general proposition,
the marsh soils will produce In abun-
dance those crops adapted 10 the lsti-
tude and longitude II is largely a
| question OF thorough drainage and I'LL
laee Of the soil A thick deposit Of silly
clay would render a marsh soil special
" adaptable TO grass and pasturage.
In a muck soil, celery onions, cab
bage and potatoes do we'll while a
lighter sandy type Of we'll drained
should produce early garden truck in
abundance"
Should be Diked Against High Tides
II, upon inspection and test, a sol
seems fertile, the marsh must be en-
banked or diked 10 prevent the en-
trance Of high tides and freshets. TIL,
interior lands must be ditched to col
lect seepage and rainfall, which mus
be collected and discharged either b,
tidewater or by pumping Marshes
which are less than three feet abov,
mean low water must be exceptionally
we'll located as regards upland drain
age water 10 be successfully drained
by gravity The soil must be freed O
its sodden and saline condition. Th,
usual method Is to clear the land o
all vegetation, burn the woods, brusl
and rank sod and offer every facility