FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 173 



the purpose of manuring them; and thus a second Egypt 

 may be artificially created, of vastly greater extent than the 

 tract of land which is enriched by the overflowings of the 

 Nile. 



Lands which are liable to be inundated, by the rise of 

 rivers, may also be protected from the waters, by imbank- 

 ments on each side of the streams; which is the method 

 adopted on the cultivated parts of the Mississippi, on a 

 great extent of the Euphrates, and on many other streams; 

 and, during the season of high waters, great care is re- 

 quisite to prevent their breaking through the banks, and 

 thus inundating the Adjacent lands. 



Much lands in their natural state are found covered with 

 a turf or peat substance, and sometimes of very considera- 

 ble thickness, particularly those which are more elevated, 

 and in more northern latitudes. Large tracts of the high 

 lands, which lie northerly of the settled parts of Herkimer 

 and Montgomery counties, are of that description- The 

 soils thus covered arc usually of pretty good quality ; gen- 

 erally best fited for grass, however ; though sometimes they 

 are merely poor sands. 



The mass with which they are covered appears to be a 

 mixture of wood and vegetable matter, which has only un- 

 dergone a partial decomposition ; owing, probably, to the 

 coolness of the surrounding atmosphere, which is formed 

 by the shade of a thick growth of wood ; for, if this be cut 

 away, and the sun let in, this mass will gradually undergo 

 a further decomposition, and at length be so reduced in 

 bulk that it can be mixed, by the plough, with the soil be- 

 neath, and thus rendered productive. 



This mass, also, when mixed with a due proportion of 

 lime, in composts, will undergo a rapid decomposition, and 

 thus be rendered a goad manure. 



The bringing of such lands under cultivation can only be 

 effected gradually ; time must be allowed for the purpose. 

 The heavy growths of timber with which, in this Country, 

 they abound, may be exhausted in manufactories, of various 

 kinds, which require the use of much fuel; and as the heat 

 of the sun will, in due season, dissipate the incumbrance 

 which covers the soil, it can, at length, be brought under 

 that cultivation to which it is best suited. Such grounds, 

 even in their crude state, will, however, bear tolerably good 

 crops of potatoes. 



Low morasses are frequently composed of turf, or peat. 

 See those articles. 



If such lands can be flooded, by water brought upon 

 them which has a sediment to deposit, in the manner before 

 mentioned, they may thus be converted into fine lands, 



