V] RAISING OF THE FERTILITY LIMIT 83 



up stream it is seen to be loaded with mud scoured 

 off from the banks and shores lower down. Much of 

 the land lies below high-water level and consists of 

 barren sand or peat. It is therefore divided up into 

 areas of suitable size (200 acres or more is not un- 

 common) which are surrounded by banks and then 

 connected with the river by means of wide channels 

 fitted with sluice gates. When the flood is high the 

 sluice gates are opened and the water runs over the 

 area and is left to stand for 3 or 4 hours. There it 

 deposits its mud: it is then allowed to run off and 

 the mud is left to dry as much as possible before the 

 next tide is due. The process is repeated daily at 

 both tides so long as the tides are high enough ; the 

 inlets are periodically shifted and the incoming flood 

 is skilfully managed to ensure that the deposit is 

 spread fairly uniformly. In course of three years the 

 deposit is some 2 or 3 feet in depth. The new land is 

 now left undisturbed to dry for a time and to get 

 some of its salt washed out; it is so^vn with white 

 clover and left for some time to consolidate ; then it 

 can be drained and levelled and used for ordinary 

 agricultural crops. Potatoes, wheat, roots, clover and 

 rye-grass are commonly grown ; they are often arranged 

 in a three-year rotation, first potatoes (well manured 

 with superphosphate and nitrate of soda, but no 

 potash, as this is unnecessary), then wheat and finally 

 roots, the clover mixture or oats. The land is very 



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