J96 Methods 0/ giving Fertility to Mountains, 



ravins are cut in its face, and every refource of which the cultivator might avail himfelf is 

 utterly deftroyed. The inhabitants of the Cevennes have, found means to corretSl this dou- 

 ble 6fFcft of the waters J and to reftore, by proceflqs no lefs fimple than ingenious, the grounds 

 which had been loft. 



I (hall firft defcribe the method of filling the ravins, and converting them into fertile land; 

 and afterwards fpeak of tlie method of covering the bare flanks of the mountains wiih ve- 

 getable mould. 



The Jirfl Procefs. 



To fill up a ravin, they begin by raifing, at the very foot of the mountain, a wall of loofe 

 ftones quite acrofs the ravin, and two or three metres (or yards) in height, towards the 

 middle, according to the depth of the ravin itfelf. This wall forms a kind of dyke, which 

 oppofes its flank to the current of the waters, and fufFers them to pafs through while they 

 are dear; but when, after a ftorm or heavy fhower of rain, they become turbid, and bring 

 down'e^arth and ftones, thefe fubftances are depofited againft the wall while the water efcapes 

 between the ftones nearly pure. By the continuance of this procefs, the triangular fpace 

 above the wall at length becomes filled. 



At the other extremity of this plat of newformed ground, another vrall is then built like 

 the firft, which in the fame manner detains the earth and vegetable mould, and forms a fecond 

 piece of ground. By a fucceffion of fioiilar operations, other platforms are produced ; and by 

 this ingenious procefs, the ravin is converted, to the very top of the mountains, into a num- 

 ber of platforms of good ground, forming fteps one above the other. Under thefe circum- 

 ftances, the waters no longer rufh in deftruflive torrents down the fides of the mountains, 

 but flow gently along the level ground, or are filtered through the porous earth depofited 

 againft the walls of fupport. The mountain, which formerly prefented a fcene of defolation 

 in every point of view, is thus made to exhibit amphitheatres of vegetable ground capable of 

 the richeft cultivation. 



Thus far the labours of the hufl>andman are employed in the conqueft of natural difficulties ; 

 but this being accompliflied, he diredts his attention to obtain the produ£ls of the ground. 

 In the former inftance, he claims our admiration; in the latter, we feel an emotion of grati- 

 tude for benefits conferred. He plants the vine againft the upper part of the wall, and caufes 

 it to creep along the external furface, that it may not ufelefsly employ a fpace deftined to 

 ether purpofe^. On thefe fmall platforms he plants mulberry-trees ; he cultivates Indian- 

 corn, potatoes, every kind of grain ; and varies his culture to the greateft advantage on this 

 rirgin foil, which is well watered, and in general of the higheft fertility. Thefe vines, thefe 

 trees, and other vegetable produdts, give firmnefs to the ground, and bid defiance to the floods 

 of fubfequent times. Seldom indeed does it happen that this valuable work of human abi- 

 lity is conflderably damaged by the fury of the tempeft. 



rhe 



