454 



THE NETHERLANDS. 



ing a violet or inky tinge to tlieir water, which contrasts strangely with the 

 verdure of the neighbouring meadows. Sometimes the peat rises to the surface, 

 forming floating islands of tangled vegetation, locally known as dnjvtillen, or 

 rietzoden — the " old wives* tow" of Ireland. The peasants occasionally float these 

 drifting masses of peat into neighbouring meres, the beds of which they desire 

 to raise, and even engineers do not disdain to make use of them in their hydraulic 

 constructions. Many of the lakes have been drained and are cultivated, a notable 

 instance being the Diem.ermeer, close to Amsterdam, whose bed lies 24 feet below 

 the river Y, which flows past it. 



The lowland bogs vary in depth between 6 and 14 feet. They extend some- 

 Fig. 250. — A Peat Bog neak Dokurecht. 



times beneath the dunes into the sea, or are concealed beneath layers of alluvial 

 soil, features which are accounted for by oscillations in the level of the land. 

 Embedded in them are trunks of trees, belonging to species hardly ever found 

 in the upland bogs, the pines being rejjlaced by hazel-trees, willows, and ash- 

 trees. Fresh-water shells occur abundantly', but none of marine origin ; but that 

 the sea has frequently invaded them is proved by their impregnation with salt. 

 Formerly the peat was burnt to extract this condiment, but this industry is no 

 longer remunerative. 



