mike paulson
Member
is it still good to use chains and wheel weights in a marsh(8 or so inchs of water with grassy bogs) or is it better to go light and stay afloat???
- Thread starter mike paulson
- Start date
Nebraska Cowman
Well-known Member
Probably depends what's underneath. I'd vote for float. I learned 50 years ago if there is cattails, Stay Out.
Jim in Ma.
Well-known Member
If your talking salt marsh NO !
Hey, Jim
How do they cut salt marsh hay? I see plenty of it growing on the North Shore of Eastern Massachusetts. I have also seen it advertised for sale but I have never seen it harvested nor have I seen mowed marshes.
I know it is a premium product and assume it is used for fodder and mulching. Mulching because it is weed free.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Wardner, snowshoes are close to what they used to use on the oxen and horses out on the marsh (almost dinner-plate sized shoes). From having canoed and walked across salt marshes I'd guess that it would take at least half-tracks on a good day. My parents' farm came with six acres of salt marsh, even though the farm was about 10 miles inland. I don't think they ever knew exactly where the land was - they sold it to a wildlife preservation group.
See www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/geography/goinginthemarsh.htm
and
www.hayinart.com/000168.html
See www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/geography/goinginthemarsh.htm
and
www.hayinart.com/000168.html
Thanks for the links SamC. I read them and was educated.
The salt marsh hay was very important to the original settlers. It was the only hay available for the imported livestock before there were any fields to mow.
It was cut during the phases of the moon where the tides were moderate. Two days later, it was stacked on "staddles". It was removed by boats (gunalows) at new moons or full moons. Or it could be stored on the staddles until winter when the marsh was frozen sufficiently to allow horses and wagons. There was a brief mention of special horse shoes.
There was no mention of modern day harvesting.
I live in northeastern Mass. where salt marsh hay is cut every year, some by farmers who have been at it for generations. They use dual wheel tractors and hay balers. The salt marsh hay is sold in local garden centers for mulch with no weed seeds. The stacks of hay in the marshes are only done by those trying to keep the tradition alive, not by farmers.
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