36 cbanbbekt cultueb. 



Swamps. 



Should a swamp be the chosen spot, the first step will 

 be to cut a main ditch, to the depth of two feet below the 

 surface of the muck underlying the turf and roots, and 

 of suflEicient width to prevent the surface becoming flood- 

 ed after heavy rains. This drainage will enable the re- 

 mainder of the work to be done more expeditiously, and, 

 consequently, more cheaply. Next, remove the bushes or 

 brush from the ground, to make room for the turfing-hoe. 

 This may be done to best advantage in summer, while 

 they are in full leaf, at which time the bushes should be 

 cut down with a brier-scythe, axe, or bill-hoot, and left 



Fig. 9. — BILL-HOOK. 



until the leaves are entirely dry. Figure 9 shows a bill- 

 hook designed by James A. Fenwick, and is superior to 

 the one in genei'al use, the thick, heavy end rendering 

 the cutting edge more effective. 



While the leaves are thus drying, the edges of the 

 swamp should be turfed one or two rods in width to pre- 

 vent the escape of fire, after which, with sufiicient force 

 for any emergency, the torch may be applied to the lee- 

 ward, and the devouring element will not only consume 

 the brush, but also a large portion of the dry turf in the 

 bottom, thus causing the remainder to be more easily 

 handled, and making the swamp present a much less for- 

 midable appearance than before. 



After disposing of the bushes, the ground is to be 

 " turfed," or " scalped," as it is sometimes called, that is, 

 the turf and surface roots must be separated from the soil 

 beneath, and turned over in pieces twelve or fourteen 

 inches square, or of convenient size for taking off. A 



