1921.] 



413 



extends over a very large district, indeed it is equal in extent 

 to the extent of the fens, for, although the whole of the Fenland 

 in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Cam- 

 bridgeshire has not been so treated, there is scarcely a farmer 

 but what has, and is now^ proceeding with this most important 

 improvement. I have witnessed this operation for the last 15 

 years; and I believe it was begun long before." Skertchly in 

 his Fenland, 1878, refers to the practice as having been in much 

 favour for the past 20 years. 



As the cost in 1841 was estimated by Mr. George Cooke, 

 manager of Lord Harrowby's Lincolnshire estate, at only 

 54s. per acre, the increase in yield of wheat obtained being 10 

 bushels per acre of 10 per cent, heavier grain, the im- 

 provement to last 15 years, it is hardly to be wondered at that 

 the practice increased rapidly. As the price of corn rose, so 

 claying grew in popularity, for the increased cost of labour 

 was small in comparison. 



With the decline in agriculture the practice was gradually 

 discontinued by the smaller tenant farmers, but it was kept alive 

 by the larger farmers, many of whom owned their holdings. 

 For some years before the War it was again growing in favour. 

 With the extreme scarcity of labour during the War all opera- 

 tions of this nature were of necessity stopped, and it was only 

 during the winter of 1919 — 1920 that it was recommenced to 

 anv extent. Indeed, with the very high cost of labour, and the 

 uncertainty of the outlook, the wonder is that it was recom- 

 menced at all, and it argues well of the practice that it should 

 be those men who had ^ad most experience of it in the past 

 who were the first to restart. 



Objects. — Claying is usually done in the winter months, 

 when other work on the farm is slack, and the field selected 

 has generally carried corn the previous year. The objects 

 aimed at are : — 



1. To apply a maximum amount of clay to the surface soil 

 with a minimum of labour. 



2. To avoid burying any of the "made" top soil, but to con- 

 serve it on the surface. 



3. To replace the clay removed, refilling the trenches 

 with inert peat, material which it is useless to incorporate 

 with the top soil (which already contains excess of organic 

 matter), but which, being of a porous nature, will issist 

 drainage. 



