Historical partitioning and use of the land. Census data from the first few decades of the nineteenth century mesh well with descriptions from farmer journals, probate records, and real estate listings through the second half of the century. The dominant land cover was grazing lands (pasture and unimproved/unimprovable) with less woodland. Smaller areas were cultivated for a wide range of vegetables and hay. English hay was largely imported grasses planted on cultivated soils; fresh meadow hay included native grasses, sedges, and herbs on freshwater wetlands; and salt marsh hay consisted of native species.