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course of six or eight weeks, become from 

 eight to ten feet deep, and the same in width. 

 The loose earth, thus detached from its 

 primary bed, covers the contiguous sur- 

 face, for an acre or two together, where 

 the best soil is, and even spoils that. 

 This may account for their not 'having 

 ditches cut, for division-fences or drains. 

 I apprehend, that, if ditches were cut and 

 quicks set, as is done in England, the fences 

 would fall down, by the water washing 

 away the soil that composes the bank. 

 In this sort of earth, I imagine that there 

 cannot be canals cut, or even drains. The 

 land is indeed materially injured in many 

 parts, for want of drains ; but I think the 

 cxpence would exceed the profit : they 

 would soon lodge up, and consequently 

 want jettying on the sides. I do not 

 remember I ever saw five yards of earth, in 

 any space at all, thus excavated, with the 

 sides standing as they do in England ; 

 since no grass will grow on the banks of the 

 canals or rivers, the soil being too poor to 



