198 Missouri Agricultural Beport. 



mills could be counted from the train window at one time. In many 

 portions of the country the canals, which are from ten to twenty feet 

 wide, are not more than ten rods apart. The water flows slowly along, 

 being gradually pumped to higher levels by means of engines or large 

 windmills, until, after passing for a long distance through large canals 

 with immense dikes on either side, it finally reaches the sea. 



Something of the energy of the Hollanders can be imagined by 

 considering that all the country roads are either macadamized or paved 

 with brick, and that all of the water has to be pumped out of the 

 country and kept from one to two feet below the surface of the land. 

 The ditches formed by this drainage system are divisions between the 

 fields,: making fences unnecessary excepting along railroads or to enclose 

 small paddocks. A passage from one pasture to another is afforded by 

 a bridge over the canal, or sometimes by filling in earth over large tile, 

 so as not to obstruct the flow of water. Posts are set on either side 

 and a gate closes the passage. 



"Windmill and engine house used for pumping water from canals into the Zuider Zee 

 on right. A large storage reservoir extends from the mill beyond the engine house. 

 This contains a reserve water supply, and in dry times can be let back into the 

 canals if desired for irrigation purposes. Sea water cannot be used on account of 

 the salt. 



Holland contains but 8,000,000 acres, or less than one-fourth the 

 area of Illinois, only one-third of which is really good land, as large 

 tracts in the eastern part are merely peat or barren sand. This com- 

 paratively small area of land, equivalent to one-twelfth the area of 

 Illinois, has developed important things, agriculturally. The size seems 

 to be no hindrance to progress, as over five million inhabitants, noted 

 for their thrift and cleanliness, make their living on this small area. 

 Their exports are $14,520,000 worth of butter and $12,480,000 worth 

 of cheese, making a total of $27,000,000 annually. At this rate, Illinois 

 would have to export $108,000,000 of butter and cheese. 



Most of the farms are owned l)y the men operating them. These 



