Rural EconoDuj of lice Netherlands. 153 



For many years the fertility of these countries has been in- 

 creased by means of a process peculiar to the locality. On the 

 sea- side little hillocks, 13 feet to 19i feet high, may be observed 

 at short distances ; they are called Terpens. These hillocks 

 were formed by the hand of man ; and when opened, their 

 contents prove that they belong to an ante-historical epoch. They 

 were without doubt places of refuge, where the ancient inha- 

 bitants took shelter with their herds during the high tides. 

 Formed of clay and manure, they contain much fertilizing 

 matter. The practice is to spread them on the meadows, and 

 thereby not only is the quantity of herbage increased, but the 

 (juality is improved. 



To the north of Friesland is the province of Over-Yssel, less 

 fertile and less prosperous. It begins with a wide region of 

 peat intersected in all directions by large lakes and numerous 

 ponds and ditches. The earth, drowned in water all round, 

 looks like a sea of mud. Towiirds autumn numberless herds 

 enliven these green solitudes ; but up to the middle of July the 

 only living things that are to be seen are the various water-fowl 

 and sea-gulls. These amphibious tracts exhibit many ingenious 

 methods of cultivation. All sorts of marsh-plants grow here 

 with great luxuriance, and they are collected to make manure. 

 The reeds furnish cheap and excellent covering for roofs ; rushes 

 are used to make mats, which serve as carpets for the humble 

 dwellings, and are also exported to England. By such means 

 a tolerable revenue is obtained from the swamps. 



This is also the land of floating islands, which originate in 

 the accumulation of vegetable debris on the surface of the lakes, 

 and in time become firm enough to carry cows. There are 

 certain spots of drier and firmer land ; and the delta formed at 

 the mouths of the \ ssel rivals in richness the best portions of 

 Flolland and Friesland. 



The province of Zealand is situated at the point where Belgium 

 ends : formed by the mouths of the Scheldt, it is made up of 

 many islands separated by the arms of that river. There is much 

 less grass-land than in Holland, one-half of the province being 

 arable. The principal crops are madder, flax, rape-seed, wheat, 

 and beans. In this damp climate, and under exposure to the 

 ocean blast, it is singular to meet with a plant so delicate as 

 madder, which delights in the warm fields of Avignon. But it 

 succeeds here very well, and appears to have been introduced in 

 the fifth century. Official statements estimate the produce of 

 2^ acres planted with madder at 30 cwts., worth 60/. at the 

 ordinary price (24/. an acre). But M. de Laveleye states that the 

 real return is generally superior to that. The best farmed portion 

 of the province is the island of Walcheren. The farms there 



