ALDERS AND REEDS. 109 



rough fields where the snipe and the plover rested, 

 which are now market-gardens in the most flourish- 

 ing condition. An enterprising individual surprised 

 the natives by renting these useless swamps. Some 

 of them, after having drained them, he dug out, and 

 then he made splendid water-cress beds there, with 

 the natural springs running through them. He 

 found, too, that the poor hungry soil that would 

 only grow torey-grass, moss, and rushes, when it 

 had been broken up by the plough, left for a time to 

 sweeten, and then well dressed with the rich soil 

 from the swamps, fat as it was with much decayed 

 vegetation, would grow almost anything. The rich 

 peat soil he used for the hungry lands that rose 

 above the places he had drained. When he first 

 began his operations, the older folks shook their 

 heads, saying it would never do, for 'twas against 

 all reason, with much more to the effect that " fools 

 and their money were soon parted." They were 

 greatly astounded when this wilderness began "to 

 blossom like the rose." I have seen many market- 

 gardens, but none like these, which he made to 

 bring forth life vigorously in tree and plant. 



This ought to be the beginning of the end so far 



