16 Reclamation of Batman's Swamp. 



ning underneath the high ground at the west end of the city. 

 The whole of the fresh water discharged by means of this 

 tunnel, during the heavy or prolonged rain falls, would be 

 got rid of in the manner before described, but certain advan- 

 tages would accrue from its presence under ordinary circum- 

 stances, for the better cultivation of the swamp. 



The effectual drainage of the swamp would prevent the 

 washing away of the embankment of the Mount Alexander 

 and Murray River Railway. At present these banks are 

 seriously injured during a high wind, by the wash of the 

 water in the swamp, and although a considerable portion of 

 the earthworks of this line, thus exposed to the action of the 

 water in the event of floods, has been changed into a timber 

 viaduct, owing to the unsoundness of the foundation, yet 

 still there are other portions of the same line, the perma- 

 nency of which would be greatly endangered, if not destroyed, 

 by the recurrence of the floods of 1840 and 1849. 



It will thus be perceived that the Government have a direct 

 interest in the reclamation of the swamp for the better pro- 

 tection of their own works. 



I may here add, by way of parenthesis, that if at any sub- 

 sequent period a greater area than I have set aside should be 

 required for docks, the fact of the land being cultivated would 

 in no way interfere^with its appropriation for that purpose. 



The same motive power applied to the drainage of the land, 

 during storms, could be, with little or no extra cost, used for 

 the purpose of irrigating the soil during the summer months. 



That the quality of soil in the swamp is worthy of culti- 

 vation, may be generally admitted ; that its cultivation, as a 

 sanatory measure, would be of benefit to the public, cannot be 

 denied ; but, in order to remove any opinions to the contrary, 

 I may state that I have made some experiments with regard 

 to the capabilities of the soil. 



In the latter end of May, 1857, I prepared a piece of 

 ground, by simply ploughing and harrowing, for a crop of 

 Cape barley. This crop did exceedingly well, and the major 

 part of it gave, after being cut, an after-growth equal to the 

 first crop. No manure of any kind was used. 



In the month of December last I had the same ground dug 

 over with the spade, into which I transplanted some orange 

 globe mangold- wurzel, and this at the hottest part of the whole 

 summer. The plants took the ground kindly, and have pro- 

 duced roots of which those now exhibited are specimens, 

 weighing, in some instances, 71bs. each. 



