16 



•breadth at top is ten or twelve feet, but contracted at bottom to 

 four and a half, one side sloping gradually downwards, the other, 

 where the nodules are obtained, being undermined, the refuse 

 material being thrown backwards. This method of working 

 shortens the labour, and allows the trench when done with to be 

 filled up quicker. 



The stratum of nodules is generally from six to nine, 

 occasionally twelve, inches in thickness ; the nodules sometimes 

 forming an even layer on the Gault, but not unfrequently being 

 found in '•' pockets," or small basons, hollowed out here and 

 there in the Gaiilt, in which case, from being more mixed up 

 with grit and gravel, they are not so clean and good for the 

 market as when more evenly distributed. I am informed that 

 on the borders of Bedfordshire children are much employed in 

 picking the grit out. 



Water at places is a great difficulty. Tlie trenches soon gt-t 

 full, steam-pumps being employed, and often kept working 

 during the night or early morning, in order to have the trenches 

 ready for the men the next day. Where parties cannot aftbrd 

 steam, hand-pumping has to be done at a great cost. Well; in 

 the neighbourhood are observed to ebb and flow in a remarkable 

 manner during these disturbances of the grovmd ; the effect being 

 felt at some distance from the works. 



The layer of nodules in all cases is mixed up more or less witli 

 clay, forming hard lumps. Clay and nodules together are throwu 

 up by the shovel from the bottom of the trench, where the 

 men stand working in a row, — the men getting accustomed to 

 throwing it up, even from a depth of ten or tM-elve feet, on to a 

 clean shelf or board, from which it is barroAved away to the 

 mill— always close at hand— for Avashing. This mill consists of 

 a mound of earth, at the top of which is placed a circular iron 

 trench, four feet or so in width and two or three deep, in which 

 is dragged round and round, by a horse on the outside, a heavy 

 iron-toothed harrow. The trench being filled with the material, 



