44 



On the Agriculture of the Netherlands. 



When the sand is of considerable depth, and little or no loam is 

 found near the surface, it becomes a diflicult and tedious process 

 to bring it into a state of productive cultivation. The sandy heaths 

 which lie between Antwerp and the Maese are of the most un- 

 promising kind ; and with all the industry of the Flemings and 

 Dutch, a great portion is still in a state of nature, producing 

 nothing but scanty tufts of heath, interspersed with a few very 

 coarse grasses. But even in these barren sands there are many 

 green spots, which have been forced into cultivation. The fol- 

 lowing passage in the Outlines" is a faithful representation of 

 such improvements : — 



" The poor sandy heaths, which have been converted into productive 

 farms, evince the indefatigable industry and perseverance of the Flemings. 

 They seem to want nothing but a space to work upon ; whatever be the 

 quality or texture of the soil, in time they will make it produce something. 

 The sand in the Campine can be compared to nothing but the sands on 

 the sea-shore, which they probably were originally. It is highly in- 

 teresting to follow step by step the progress of improvement. Here you 

 see a cottage and rude cow-shed erected on a spot of the most unpromis- 

 ing aspect. The loose white sand blown into irregular mounds is only 

 kept together by the roots of the heath : a small spot only is levelled and 

 surrounded by a ditch ; part of this is covered with young broom, part 

 is planted with potatoes, and perhaps a small patch of diminutive clover 

 may show itself ; but there is a heap of dung and compost forming. The 

 urine of the cow is collected in a small tank, or perhaps in a cask sunk 

 in the earth ; and this is the nucleus from which, in a few years, a little 

 farm will spread around. 



" In another spot more extensive improvements are going on; a 

 wealthy proprietor or lessee is trenching and levelling the surface, sow- 

 ing broom-seed, and planting young fir-trees, which are to be cut down 

 in a few years. In another, the process has gone on further : the firs or 

 the broom are already cut down ; a vein of loam has been found, and is 

 dug out to be spread over the sandy surface ; the cart with liquid manure 

 is preparing the surface for the reception of seed, or the same, diluted 

 with water, is poured over the young blade just appearing above ground. 

 The soil is created, and, if the cost and labour were reckoned, is paid 

 for at a dear rate : but perseverance insures success, and there are few 

 instances of improvements being abandoned, after they are fairly begun, 

 unless they were undertaken on too large a scale ; but then the land is 

 soon divided into smaller portions, and improvements go on from dif- 

 ferent centres, and with more certainty." — pp. 11, 12. 



Trenching and levelling the surface is always the first opera- 

 tion in bringing a barren soil into cultivation. The Flemings and 

 Dutch are very expert in this operation : — 



" The instrument they use is a light wooden trenching-spade, the end 

 of the blade only being shod with iron : the handle of this spade is about 

 2 feet long, the blade from 12 to 15 inches. A light pick-axe is used 

 to break the pan where it appears. A ditch is dug with the trenching- 



