108 Warping. 



two or three hours the whole surface of the area is covered, 

 provided, of course, that it is more or less level. The depth of 

 water varies from two to three feet, but in many cases it is even 

 more than this, depending on the original level of the land. 

 When the tide in the river has changed from flood to ebb, and 

 its level has fallen below that of the flood waters on the land, 

 these once more run back into the river as clear water, leaving 

 behind them a thick deposit of mud. The thickness of the 

 deposit after each tide varies, when dry, from the thickness of 

 a piece of lirown paper up to the eight of an inch. This process 

 is carried on twice every day during the spring, or highest tides 

 of the summer months, and after three years it will readily be 

 understood that a deposit two or three feet in depth has been 

 produced. This depth varies greatly according to circumstances ; 

 it depends on the position of the area warped and on the kind 

 of summer, whether wet or dry. It is interesting to note that 

 it is during the summer that the water is most highly charged 

 with warp, and a dry summer more so than a wet one. The 

 reason for this is that there is more fresh water in the river 

 during a wet season. No warping is done during the winter, 

 nor are the neap or smaller tides admitted during the summer 

 months, as they do not attain a sufficient height. The chief 

 object to be attained is the quick and even distribution of the 

 water over the surface of the area, so that the warp may be 

 deposited uniformly upon it. The sandy particles are the first 

 to be deposited and then the clay. We thus get a layer of clay 

 and then a layer of sand. If the cuts are not properly arranged 

 there is a risk of there being a bank of sand at the entrance to 

 the area, and a bed of clay at the further side of it. 



After three years, or whenever it is considered that there is 

 a sufficient depth of warp, the land is " taken off," that is to say 

 the warping process is stopped and the flooding ceases. 



The area will now consist of a smooth level surface of mud, 

 the cuts originally made being to a great extent warped up. 

 The function of the warping drain is now that of an ordinary 

 main arterial drain, and when the surface is dry the first thing 

 to do is to cut ditches emptying into the warping drain, which 

 discharges in its turn into the river. 



The two great aims in warping are, first, that the whole area 

 shall be of uniform quality, the sand and clay being equally 

 mixed, and, secondly, that the level of the new land shall easily 

 admit of drainage. As the surface of the land is a dead level, 

 the drains have to be given an artificial fall, and if this is 

 carelessly done the land will soon become waterlogged and 

 comparatively valueless, whereas when properly carried out 

 a j)rolific area of new or virgin land is the result. It frequently 

 happens that the warping process has not been continued long 



