668 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 



wHle on other coasts it was very poor and miserable. On tlie Essex 

 coast all the surface was impregnated and poisoned by something that 

 came from the oysters, ; he knew a piece of land that was enclosed on 

 which millions of ant-hills had since risen, costing about 3/. an acre 

 every year to level them. The grass did not grow till late in the 

 season, and as soon as the hot weather came, the land began to crack. 

 The consequence was that no tenant could pay his rent. In Norfolk 

 it was different, because there was a sufficient quantity of alluvial soil 

 to make the land pay well. Various reasons were given for this rich- 

 ness. His opinion was that the sea had nothing to do with it. There 

 were two sources to which he looked : one was, the matter washed out 

 of the drains into the river, and the other, the animaculae deposited. 

 It was possible to achieve great results by the judicious enclosure of 

 land. Some time ago he was asked to make a certain embankment ; 

 but, as a practical man, he declined. A London engineer came for- 

 ward, and, although he was told the work was impracticable, he under- 

 took to do it in six weeks, at the moderate cost of between 400Z. and 

 600/. The gentleman wished to make an earth embankment with 

 brick-bats and faggots, and a wooden tunnel at the bottom. The work 

 went on for 16 weeks, 4000Z. was spent, and the first tide that came 

 swept every particle of the bank away. He mentioned this to show 

 that, after all, practical exj)eriencG was the chief thing to guide those 

 who attempted the reclaiming of lands. 



A great deal more might be done in improving our rivers; the chief 

 thing was to train them : as a rule the back waters were not sufficiently 

 concentrated to scour a deep channel. Faggots, if used, might be 

 placed at a slope of about one to one ; and it was astonishing how 

 well they stood. Some gentlemen were great advocates for faggot 

 jetties ; but they had a tendency, when the water passed by, to the 

 cutting of the bank between the jetties. It was better to have no jn-o- 

 jections, if they could be avoided. In various places where the water 

 pressed hard, piles might be used. 



Mr. Holland, M.P., agreed that this was a question of much 

 interest and importance to agriculturists generally, and it was specially 

 valuable to the Society ; our population was increasing every year, 

 but our island did not increase, except through these adventitious 

 cu'cumstances and scientific achievements, whilst a large area was taken 

 annually from agriculturists for the purpose of building. Hence the 

 importance of gathering together all available facts as to the means 

 by which our waste lands might be made serviceable. One or two in- 

 teresting points had arisen out of the discussion. One was as to the 

 value of silt, and another remark showed the importance of ajjplying 

 animal matters to the land for the production of vegetable substance. 

 In reclaiming the land from the sea they were providing additional 

 area, and at the same time a manure to enrich it. He moved a vote of 

 thanks to Mr. Grantham and Mr. Shellabcar for their addresses. 



Mr. Clayden, who seconded the motion, said he was connected with 

 the Norfolk Estuary Company, whose depreciated shares had been 

 mentioned during the discussion, and he begged to state they were 

 not in quite such a bankrupt condition as had been represented. The 



