The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-06
day to pump out its water, which has an
area of about $780, 900 acres, and an average

canals for drainage and for communica-
tom which are to serve the future genera
lions who are to inhabit it. This scheme
would seem wild and impossible were il NOT
for the experience with HARLEM Lake.
which lies within few miles of it. This
magnificent farming district was only
7 twenty-five years ago navigable sea about
sixteen miles long and seven miles wide.-
1t lay between the cities of Amsterdam
7 and HARLEM, its surface nearly level with
) their streets, and threatening them both
: with destruction during heavy storms. As
} measure of safety it was determined to
annihilate it. 1t was surrounded with two
} immense dykes over thirty miles long, in
closing canal, and three engines with a
combined force of 1000 horse. power were
set at work to pump out it's waters. At
the end of 81 years of incessant activity
its bottom was laid dry, and now its 45, 600
acres, lying about fourteen feet below tho
level of the sea, are busy with the proauc-
ton of food for the cities which the lake
so lately menaced.
We made visit to one of the older
drained lakes (the Beemster,) which was
drained about ESQ years ago, and has ever
since been one of the richest dairy regions
OF Holland. 1t contains about 1900
acres, and lies about twelve feet below the
level of the sea. 1t is surrounded by a
canal, by which its water is carried away,
and into which its drainage is pumped by
"a enormous notwithstanding only in
the winter and after heavy rains. In it's
center is neat old Dutch village, and the
small farms into which it is divided are
approached by perfectly level roads, which
like most country roads in Holland-are
paved with hard-burned bricks. Nearly
| the whole area is in grass, and the
chief industry of the farms is the produc-
ton of those round Dutch cheeses (weigh-
ing about four poundsl which are known
| in the cities of the whole world, and which
we saw piled up like cannon-balls in the
squares of the towns on market days. We
passed some hours at the farm of Mr..
Wouter Sluis, who kindly showed US his
whole establishment. He has aboat 1923
acres, which lie values at $500 per acre.
lie plows only twelve acres each year.
All tho rest is kept in clover and grass
Ills fields are divided by the bitches, which
serve for the drainage and for the trans
portation of hay and manure in boats
His stock consists of As cows, "a head of
young horned stock, horses, 100 sheep,
and abont 40 swine
One thing about this farm land the same
is true of nearly all farms in Holland)
strikes the American eye very oddly
There was but one building of any import
ance on the whole farm-an enormous
broad-roofed building, with hooded -
gable at the front end, and all covered with
red tiles. The front part is the house
spacious and comfortable, and with some
rare bits of old furniture and Japanese
pottery, and some fine books, which gave
it an air of decided interest. Back of this
land opening into it, occupying the whole
width of the building, was the constable,
with two rows Of hangers and water
troughs thanking a central alley which is
floored with bricks. The water-troughs
are simply depressions or cutters at the
sides of this alley, and are also of brick.
They are filled from pump at one end,
and the water is let off lat pleasure at the
other. The cows stand on raised earthen
floor, which has brick wall to support it's
rear part: Behind them is deep manure
trough. which retains the solid droppings
and allows the urine to flow to liquid
manure cistern, which accumulates all the
liquid refuse of the establishment, and
which has pump for filling the tank cart
for sprinkling the meadows. During sum-
mer, when the cattle are constantly in the
field, the earthen floor is covered with
handsome tiles. At the time of our visit
this stable was so scrupulously clean and
bright that we mistook it for huge milk
room.
Back of the stable lin the loft over which
the cheeses are seasoned) are the hay loft,
the cheese factory, horse stables, wagon
house, tool sheds, etc. To our American
ideas, this close contiguity of stable and
dwelling seemed at least odd, but it is the
universal custom in this almost absurdly
clean and we'll washed land, even among
the wealthiest farmers, and there are many
who count their riches by hundreds of
thousands. Indeed, in some of the richer
parts of Friesland and Groningen, the
evidences Of prosperity take a very absurd
form. 1t is not unusual to find two fine
pianos in the house, though there is no
pretense of allowing the daughters to learn
to play them they are needed in the dairy;
and it is said that some of the rich COLA
growers use silver tea-kettles and gold
table service-using them in the rude mode
of life to which they have been bred, and
which they would scorn to change for any
thing more refined. They love to surround
themselves with the evidences of wealth,
but they seem careless Of the real advant-
ages that it is the legitimate Office of wealth
to secure. Indeed, the Dutch farmer, in
his barbaric way, has some of the peculi-
arities of some of the farmers of other
places which shall be nameless. lie fancies
himself to be personally more admirable
than he would if he knew more of the out
side world; and he attaches undue import
ance to the simple possession of much
money.
SHAwLs.-Nevcr before have the India
shawls been offered at so low price; nor
need those who sigh for this acquisition to
wardrobe hesitate on the ground Of ex-
travagance, for an India shawl is a Joy
forever and goes down from generation to
generation as thing of beauty, always
fashionable and always comforting. Some
of the very newest arriv ais escape the con.
ventional stately palm and graceful fern,
and in their lieu is border of exquisite
Autumn leaves in the pale yellow and hcc-
tic flush, the warm woody brown and gray
pallor of decay. The darkest. richest hues
of the Orient are found in these imperial
beauties, soft and marvelously like velvet,
varying in price from $500 to So, 500. Tho