AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 193 



On this subject it is proper to remark, that exclusively 

 of the main central drain, or drains, carried at the lowest 

 ..level, and according to the natural and old established 

 course of the waters, sufficient drains or water courses 

 should be made to skirt or surround the wjaole of the 

 fens cut on the dry or solid land above their level. It is 

 obvious, that by thus guarding the fens from their great 

 and principal feeders which come from the upland coun- 

 try r there would then require to be drained, or to be 

 raked from the fens, only that proportion of water which 

 may fall on their superfices. The Agricultural Surveyor 

 of Cambridgeshire seems to be of opinion, that the gene- 

 ral bed of the fens is sufficiently elevated above the level 

 of the sea to drain itself. This fa6l is of too impertan ta 

 nature not to be fully and minutely inquired into, as in 

 the event of its being established, not only the fens lately 

 under cultivation, and now drowned, might in future be 

 .more securely and effectually drained, but an addition of 

 150,000 acres of undrained and unreclaimed fen land, 

 in the County of Cambridge alone, would accrue to the 

 agriculture, or the cultivation of this country. Should 

 the fens not be capable of being drained completely 

 .by any sea level, and that the water .should require 



B b to 



