Agriculture of Denmark. 
271 
towards the soa as soon as the exterior pressure of the tide is 
Avithdrawn. When, however, the tide has for some time been 
liifjher than usual, the water in the marshes thus headed back 
collects in such quantities as to flood the level in a way that 
Avould be destructive to any roads there constructed. Cottages 
are built in the marshes on artificial hills, or sometimes even on 
the terraces of the dykes ; round them a few trees may be seen, 
but otherwise the marshes are treeless ; even hedges do not 
exist, but the fields are separated by ditches. To cross these 
ditches the inhabitants of the marshes (both male and female) 
avail themselves of leaping-poles 8 feet long. 
It appears singular that such gigantic undertakings as the 
dams, the dykes, the locks, cVc, should pay, but yet the fact is 
established. The marshes of the duchies of Sleswig and Hol- 
stein are considered some of the most fertile districts in the 
world ; grass, <;orn, rape-seed, and beans thrive there with extra- 
ordinary luxuriance ; while a cow, as a general rule, gives but 8 
to 10 quarts of milk daily, those in the marshes give 20 to 30 ; 
while oats and barley in good soil give 12 to 14-lbld, they yield 
30 to 42-fold in the marshes. I may name Mr. Erslev, the 
eminent writer on the National Economy of Denmark, as my 
authority for these statements. 
Some remarkable features are presented by the small islands 
called " Halligerne " on the west coast of Sleswig, at a distance 
from the marshes of from 5 to 30 English miles. They are gene- 
rally inhabited, but cannot be cultivated, as they tare frequently 
inundated at high water. The houses, or cabins, are therefore built 
on artificial mounds formed 20 feet high, called "wharfs"; — at 
spring-tide, however, the water frequently penetrates into the 
houses, and the inhabitants must then escape to the lofts, where 
they sometimes remain several days surrounded bv the ocean. 
The loft, or roof, does not rest on the house, but upon strong poles 
driven down into the earth ; it sometimes happens that the walls 
of the house are washed away, whilst the inhabitants remain in 
safety under the roof, but at times they are unfortunately 
drowned. They are a tough and hardy people, who, strange to 
say, love their impoverished islands too well to be induced to- 
remove elsewhere by the promise of prosperity. These people 
belong to the Frisian race, and never marry out of it. They are 
neither farmers nor fishermen, but shepherds ; 100 sheep suf- 
fice to support an ordinary family. To the houses on the 
" wharfs " are attached enclosed grounds, where the sheep seek 
shelter at very high water ; but, nevertheless, many of them are 
drowned. By the side of each house is found a cistern, where 
rain-water is collected; it is the sole water-reservoir of the inha- - 
bitants of these singular islands. 
