DRAINAGE. 69 



ditch is formed, at its base, through its whole length. This 

 ditch itself serves to receive the waste waters from the drained 

 land ; but as they have no chance of escape, unless, in some 

 cases, by a tunnel formed under the river, and conveying them to 

 a lower locality, and when rising nearer than within four feet of 

 the surface of the drained land, affecting injuriously its condition, 

 a steam-engine is employed to raise and discharge the water, and 

 thus relieve the land from it. This was formerly attempted by 

 windmills, which could of course not be depended on, and were 

 both expensive and ineffectual. It is now done by steam-engines. 

 These move a power-wheel of large diameter, which revolves in 

 a chamber walled with stone, resembling the lock of a canal, in 

 which it moves with great precision, and so as barely to clear 

 the sides. The water is forced up on the paddles, and, at a suf 

 ficient height, is thrown over the bank or gate into the river. 



5. THE DEEPING FEN. At Podes-hole, which I visited, there 

 are in operation two steam-engines of the most beautiful con 

 struction the one of sixty, and the other of eighty horse power ; 

 and these are effectual to the draining of 40,000 acres of what 

 is called the Deeping Fen. The upper part of these lands, 

 which are thus drained, was peat meadow ; the lower part was 

 salt marsh. These lands are now in the highest degree produc 

 tive ; producing fine crops of wheat, oats, potatoes, and swedes, 

 besides furnishing the very best of pasturage and hay land. 

 There is found to be a difference in the qualities of the grass ; 

 the lowest lands are fed with sheep, and the highest with cattle. 

 Barley is not cultivated on these lands ; but, besides the crops 

 above mentioned, mustard, woad, and chiccory, are extensively 

 cultivated. Four crops of wheat have been taken in succession 

 from these lands, without manure. As the last crop was less 

 than the former, the land was then laid down to grass. The 

 rent of these lands is 38s. and 40s. per acre ; but this must be 

 considered as a moderate rent for lands so valuable. By means 

 of these steam-engines, the water is kept down to the desired 

 level. It is not found necessary to work them at all times, and 

 the power is sufficient to meet any extraordinary emergency. 



6. THE MUSTON DRAINAGE. These improvements are so 

 extraordinary, and I may say so truly magnificent, that I shall 



