COST OF THE RECLAMATION. 261 



stone. These cross lines should be made lower in the 

 center than at the ends, lest the water should escape 

 around either or both ends, and form new channels. 

 When deep gullies have been formed, a different course 

 must be pursued, viz. : to throw into the deepest part 

 coarse basket work, gabions, or bundles of brush, which 

 are loaded with stones, until the bottom is gradually 

 raised ; when it will become possible to use the stakes 

 and brush. When the level of the made ground reaches 

 the usual high water mark, it is ready to be enclosed 

 between banks, and rarely before this point is reached. 

 The course to be followed is then such as has been already 

 described in this chapter. 



The surface having appeared above water, and having 

 been embanked and freshened, as previously described, it 

 is prepared for cultivation by being sown to grass as a 

 preliminary proceeding ; for this may be grown long be 

 fore any other cultivated crop can succeed. Perhaps as 

 meadow and pasture land it will be found more profitable 

 than in any other condition, because of the ease with 

 which it may be brought under irrigation, and kept as a 

 water meadow ; for there are scarcely any lands better 

 situated for this purpose, or that can be more cheaply and 

 profitably managed in this way, than such lands as are 

 here under consideration. 



The cost of such a process of reclamation, as is describ 

 ed in this chapter, will of course depend considerably 

 upon the size of the tract operated upon ; the more or less 

 favorable circumstances attending the operation ; and the 

 skill with which the works are managed. The most 

 reasonable estimate, when every thing is favorable, is $25 

 per acre, and from this sum up to $100 per acre may be 

 held to be the probable limits of the cost, unless some 

 very unfavorable circumstances present themselves. 



Finally, it may be stated that to insure success in any 

 of the methods of reclamation here considered, 



