520 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



No. 9 



fire was the uncommon prevalence of E<moke, and 

 its long continued increase. But a shift, of vvind 

 would remove it from the neighborhood of the la- 

 borers, and lor as much as a week togetiier they 

 were free from it. At last, the fire approached so 

 near that the tailing of the great trees was heard 

 in rapid and continued succession, like the reports 

 of guns heard at a distance — and when still nearer, 

 bears and other " varmunts" were seen fieeing 

 from destruction, and some times singed and lam- 

 ed from having been forced through the fire. At 

 last the laborers nearest the approaching flames 

 were driven in, and in such alarm, that all hastily 

 embarked on the lake, and left the swamp. From 

 30,000 to 50,000 shingles, ready lor market, which 

 were the vvroperty of a single individual (the fa- 

 ther of one of our party,) had been previously 

 thrown into the old canal — but vvithout obtaining 

 much ol' the expected eli'ect in saving them from 

 the flames. The upper layers, above the water, 

 having taken fire and been consumed, and their 

 weight removed, the next layer would rise to the 

 same height — and though wet, were soon dried 

 enough, by so powerful a heat, to take fire a!so. 

 Thus the shingles, which had been completely 

 submerged, conlinued to rise and to burn, until but 

 a small part was lelt. The fire continued about a 

 month, and passed over the greatest part of the 

 swamp. From other authority, I lean^ed that the 

 soil was in many of the dryest places burnt down 

 as deep as two leet, producing sucli efl'ects as 

 have been already mentioned. 



To such a fire, in Ibrmer times, acting on a still 

 dryer state of the swamp, it seems probable that 

 the lake owes its existence, by the soil being burnt 

 so low as to allow water to be retained, and oi' 

 depth too great for plants to grow therein, which 

 otherwise would have recommenced a growth of 

 peat, and by it ultimately have filled affain the 

 void. That this vast basin w^s thus hollowed out 

 by fire seems to be proved by stumps at the bot- 

 tom being found charred on their surface — by the 

 perpendicularity of the banks — and the operation 

 is rendered probable, strange and great as the el"- 

 fect may be, by the reasonableness of its taking 

 place, when the supposed existing circumstances 

 are considered. 1 do not suppose that the basin 

 was burnt to its present depth — and merely be- 

 cause it is not likely that the earth could have 

 been dry to the depth of fifteen feet, or even of half 

 that depth. But if burnt to three feet onl}^, and 

 then filled with water, the continued growth in 

 thickness of the margin of the swamp generally, 

 in the course of ages would raise the surlace to fif- 

 teen feet above the present bottom of the lake. 



But if the swamp soil is growing in thickness, 

 and (as I suppose) the lake in depth, it is also be- 

 lieved, and with nmch appearance of truth, that 

 the lake is likewise continually growing in super- 

 ficial extent. That this is taking ))lace along a 

 large part of its margin, is evident to present obser- 

 vers, and still more to those who remember the 

 state of things many years ago, and have wit- 

 nessed the gradual encroachments of the water. 

 Some however doubt whether other parts of the 

 shore may not be growing, by filling up. I do not 

 see why the water may not be spreading on all 

 sides. The violence of the waves, in high winds, 

 must undermine and wash away the banks— and oi' 

 the earth thus removed, the lightest parts are 

 dashed over upon the svvami), where they dry and 



rot, or otherwise add to the depth of the soil — and 

 the more earthy and heavy, serve to raise the bot- 

 tom of the lake, and the more so where nearest to 

 thcrbanks — and in this manner to cause the regu- 

 lar deepening towards the centre that is l()und to 

 exist. Until the parts thus filled up shall rise near 

 enough to the surliice to support plan's, and thus 

 gradually grow to be high peat again, the lake 

 must be widening on every side to which the 

 waves are driven by violent winds. 



The following results, showing the proportions 

 of vegetable matter contained, were obtained by 

 subjecting to trial difl'erent soils of the Dismal 

 Swamp. The method used was to measure the 

 bulk of" each specimen, by pressing it moderately 

 and equally into a measuring glass, marked at 

 equal portions of an ounce of water each. The 

 measured portions of earth were then separately 

 exposed, in an iron vessel, to a strong heat, for 

 one or two hours, until each seemed as much re- 

 duced by combustion as could be by such means. 

 Coally matter still rernained with all the ashes, 

 shovi'ing that the burning was not completely fin- 

 ished. All these soils have been before described, 

 either particularly, or generally. The amounts 

 lost may be supposed to show the comparative 

 proportions contained of vegetable matter. 



1. Of the soil of the reed covered swamp land 

 (Mr. Daniel Jordan's) described page 517, taken 

 about 1-|- or 2 feet from the surface, 3 parts (oz, 

 measures,) lost in bulk, by burning, 2^ parts, or 

 75 per cent. 



2. Of the gunn swamp soil, also JSir. Jordan's, 

 descj'ibed page 517, taken fi'om 1 to 2 feet be- 

 low the siirliice, (but quite free from any mixture 

 of the clay subsoil — ) 3 parts lost, by exposure to 

 heat equal to any used, only half a part — or 16 

 percent. This became black by burning, but could 

 not be made to take fire, as the other specimens 

 did. So small a loss was unlooked for. 



3. Of the gum and cypress swamp soil near the 

 north-western side of the lake. This was pre- 

 sumed to be some of the highest and firmest land, 

 as it had been ditched and cultivated by old Dra- 

 per in turnips, the best of which were as large as 

 musket bullets, and had leaves G inches long. The 

 specimen was fiee from unrotted vegetable mat- 

 ter. Five parts lost by burning 4^ parts, or 90 per 

 cent. 



4. Of juniper soil, taken fi'om 6 to 10 inches 

 below the surface, and below all living roots or un- 

 rotted vegetable matter. The specimen was a 

 black slim}' nuid, which gave no indication to the 

 eye of ha\'ing an excessive proportion of vegetable 

 matter. Eight parts (half a pint) of lhese)il afier 

 burning, left one third of a part — showing the ve- 

 o-eiab!e matter destrojed by lire to be 96 |ier cent. 

 This specimen and the next, only, burnt with flame 

 for a short time. 



5. Soil ol cum and cypress, under its original 

 growth — about 200 yards li-om the north-western 

 side of the lake. The specimen taken fi"om six to 

 ten inches below the surliice, and free from living 

 roots, or unrotted vegetable matter. Eight parts 

 (half a pint) was reduced by burninfi to one third 

 of a part, or lost about 96 per rent. This specimen 

 was burnt at a difl'erent time, and with more pow- 

 erful heat than the others. 



Before closing these remarks, some speculations 

 will be submitted as to the feasibility and policy ol 

 draining this immense body of swamp, supposing 



