FARMER'S ASSISTANT. If I 



It is advisable to plant the outside of these banks with 

 the shrub-willow, which grows along the banks of the low- 

 lands of many of the small rivers of this Country ; but by no 

 means should such banks be planted with trees of large 

 growth, as these are liable to be upset by the winds, and 

 might thus do great mischief, by leting in the adjacent 

 waters. 



There are many tracts of marshy lands on our sea-shores, 

 which might be rendered very valuable by being thus im- 

 banked, then ditched, and having the waters of the ditches 

 thrown over the banks* by the aid of wind- machinery. 

 See that article. 



Between Hoboken and Newark, in Newjersey, is a large 

 tract of this description. Such lands being strongly im- 

 pregnated with the salts of the ocean, are generally very 

 ferule, where they are laid sufficiently dry for the plough ; 

 and, in such case, if they are laid down with meadow-cats- 

 tail, or other grass suitable to the soil, they will yield dou- 

 ble, perhaps treble, the amount which they bore ol the salt- 

 grass, with which they were covered in their natural 

 state. 



In the county of Orange is a very large tract, called the 

 dr&wned-lands, which never can be effectually drained, but 

 by the method above mentioned ; and the same may be ob- 

 served of another large tract, adjoining the Sacondaga 

 river, in the county of Montgomery. The like observation 

 may be applied to the great tracts of marshy and swampy 

 lands on the Senaca river ; to the tract called the Tonne- 

 wanta swamp; and to many other tracts, within and without 

 this State, which need not be here designated. 



Another great improvement of swampy lands is effected 

 by liming them, after laying them dry by ditching. It is 

 particularly useful in all grounds which are covered with a 

 peaty or turfy matter, from which little or no vegetation is 

 to be expected. 



By mixing lime with surfaces of this description, a fur- 

 ther decomposition of this vegetable matter takes place, and 

 it becomes reduced to a solid and fertile mould, capable of 

 sustaining vigorous growths of plants suited to such soils. 

 . But this is not the only benefit derived from the process; 

 as the lime destroys the miasma which is often so abundant- 

 ly produced in such soils, as to render them the seats of 

 pestilence and disease. 



The liming of swamps for the double purpose of render- 

 ing them healthy, and increasing their fertility, was first 

 suggested by Linnatus, and is said to have been of late 

 very successfully practised in Greaibritain. 



See MANURES, for the quantity of lime to be used. 



