292 



Farming of Lincobishirt 



silt deposited by every flood-tide ; and even then considerable 

 difficulty is experienced in maintaining clear channels for the 

 rivers to their junction. The Witham has been strengthened 

 below Boston, and the Welland has been artificially compelled 

 to scour itself a direct channel through the sand-banks of the 

 estuary, to secure a minimum of obstruction to the flow of the 

 back-water, and freedom from angles and bends which favour 

 the deposition of sediment. 



The whole sea-coast of Lincolnshire, a line of at least 112 

 miles from the mouth of the Nene to that of the Trent, consists 

 of marsh lands lower than the tides at high water, and barrier 

 banks extend (with some trifling exceptions) along the whole of 

 this length. All these must be kept in constant repair ; and, 

 besides these defences, there are at least 70 miles of bank on 

 the river Trent (viz. 35 miles on each side) daily abraded by the 

 swift and impetuous tides from the Humber, and the long banks 

 of the various rivers already noticed, requiring continual labour 

 and attention. Along the greater part of the shore, two, three, 

 and sometimes four ranges of embankment are found at a con- 

 siderable distance apart from each other, being the boundaries of 

 successive enclosures from the sea. The lands included between 

 these ancient barriers are on a higher level than those first en - 

 closed, and the most recently reclaimed are more elevated than 

 the last before them, so chat the surface rises a step at each em- 

 bankment as it approaches the sea. Consequently, the fen 

 waters, having to pass through the higher marsh grounds to their 

 outfall, require large main drains, but the lands next the outer 

 sea-bank drain by means of small sluices in the embankment, 

 being high enough to drain over the flats and shoals without a 

 deep channel scoured through them. Between the Trent mouth 

 and the Nene outfall are more than 60 of these ^'gouts''* or 

 outlets, without including the larger sluices upon the main drains 

 and rivers. These waters, and indeed all the water discharged 

 by the Fen rivers with or without sluices, have to be emitted 

 during those hours of each day in which the tide is below a cer- 

 tain level — the flow outwards being impeded by the pressure of 

 the higher salt water for the remaining period. 



The drainage of South Holland, the district east of the river 

 Welland, is divided between several distinct outfalls and respec- 

 tive works of drainage. The higher or "old" lands, on which 

 the principal towns are situated, together with a portion of the 

 clay fens south of them and the whole of the marshes north and 

 east, drain by small outlets and private sewers, as mentioned 

 above ; the public sewers being under the care of commissioners 



Pronounced^" gates.'' 



