Methods ef giving Fertility ta Mountains, 297 



"The fecond Procefs. 



The induftry of the inhabitant of the Cevennes is no lefs furprifing, when his exertions 

 are direfted to give fertility to the flope of a calcareous mountain. Moft of thefe moun*. 

 tains are formed by beds of flone about a denii-metre, or half a yard, in thicknefs. Thefe 

 different ftrata form fhelves one above another, according to {he inclination of the mountain. 

 But the cultivator gives an equal width to all thefe ftages by breaking away the rock, the 

 fragments of which he employs in confl^rudting a low wall on the edge of the platform itfelf. 

 He fills this cavity with a bed of vegetable earth taken out of the clefts of the rock, or 

 conveyed upon his back from the very foot of the mountain, where it has been gradually 

 depofited by the waters. In this manner, after unremitted labour, the fide of the mountain 

 becomes covered with low walls parallel to each other, which confine beds of vegetable earth 

 from one to three yards in width. 



It often happens that thefe beds of earth are carried away, and the walls overfet, in con- 

 fequence of a violent wind, or ftorm of rain. On thefe occafions, the determined fpirit of 

 the cultivator is (hewn in repairing the mifchief. The life of the inhabitant of the Cevennes 

 is one continued ftruggle againft the elements, which feem to confpire againft his efforts. 

 I was acquainted at St. Jean de Gardonenque, with Cit. Peftre, an induflrious man, an en- 

 lightened cultivator, and fkilful phyfician. This man, at the firft threatenings of a ftorm, 

 clothed himfelf in a long garment of oil-cloth, with an enormous hat of tinned iron, firmly 

 fixed by means of ftraps. Thus defended, he haftened into the midft of his pofFefBons, 

 where alone, with a mattock in his hand, he dire£ted the water to the feet of his trees, and 

 colledted the furplus in cavities which he had formed in the rock itfelf. By thefe laborious 

 exertions he conftantly prevented inundations, and procured water for his grounds at fuch 

 times as the burning heats rendered them necefTary. His neighbours, who, as ufual in fuch 

 cafes, at firil derided bis extraordinary folicitude, were conftrained to admire his induflry, 

 and envy his gains. They have all admitted to me, that by this labour, of which few of 

 them are capable, he quadrupled tbe ufual product of his grounds. Such inftances of pro- 

 digious agricultural exertion are not unfrequent in the Cevennes ; but my prefent objedl 

 being to fpeak of general methods, it is fufficient that I have defcribed the ingenious method 

 of giving fertility to a mountain. We cannot avoid feeling a fentiment of admiration, and 

 even perfonal vanity, when we confider one of thefe mountains converted by the hjnds of 

 man from a ftate of abfolute barrennefs to a high- degree of fertility, and covered from its 

 hafe to its fummit with trees, fruits, grain, and other ufeful produdiions. 



He who doubts the extenfive powers of labour and induftry in the affairs of agriculture, 

 needs only to vifit tlie Cevennes to become convinced of his err r*. 



* This praftice of converting the fides of mountains into platforms for the purpofes of agriculture is com- 

 jnon in China, and gives a Angular afpeft 10 the country around C ntin. But it di 1 not a pear to nne that 

 the praftice wa^ direfted to ti e fame obje"^, namely, that 0^ giving tertil.ty to barieu mountains. On the 

 contrary, theic fall were .eit .n a ttate of naturt.—N. , 



jiecount 



