Farming of Lincolnsldre. 



329 



about 7 feet.* The lands thus drained therefore resemble the 

 Polders of the Netherlands, on a smaller scale, but much more 

 effectually drained ; the water being there elevated in successive 

 lifts to the height of 20 or more feet, from millions of acres of 

 embanked lands ; but with this disadvantage, that the motive force 

 is wind instead of steam. 



In Arthur Toung's Survey" of this county, in 1799, it is 

 stated that there Vv'ere at that time 66,000 acres of low lands not 

 begun to be drained ; but at the present time all the fen and. 

 marsh lands enjoy what Young would have thought an exceedingly 

 good drainage, and there are constant improvements going on 

 which give a promise of the time when a deep and permanent 

 subsoil-drainage will become practicable and universal. 



Explanatory Drawing of a Scoop-Wheel. 



A, Scoop-wheel 33 feet in diameter, makinf^ three and a half revolutions per minute. The float- 

 boards are 5 I'eet in length, aud may be from 20 inclies to oi feet in breadth, according to the 

 power of the engine and the head of water, &c. to be provided for. Tlie lower half of the wheel 

 is encased between two walls, just far enough apart to admit the floats between thein. 



B, Curve of masonry fitting close to the ends of the floats, aud (with the side walls) forming the 

 wheel- race. " 



C, Pinion upon the crank-shaft of the steam-engine, gearing internally with a toothed wheel on the 

 side of the scoop-wheel. It is more common to have a smaller pinion working a separate toothed- 

 wheel on the axle of the scoop. 



D, Main drain, 9 feet deep. The water-level is 3 feet below the surface of the land when the wheel 

 has its full dip (5 feet), and there is 1 foot in depth left below the floats or ladles for the passage 

 of weeds and other matters. 



E, River; the water 8 feet higher than that iu the drain, and therefore 5 feet above the land. This 

 " head" of 8 feet, with the " dip" of 5 feet, make 13 feet " head and dip." If only half the 

 length of the floats was immersed, the " head" would be greater, and the " dip" less ; but the 

 " head and dip," or extreme height to which water is lifted, would be the s;ime. 



F, Embankment. 



G, Pair of doors on valves, pointing like the gates of a canal lock, so as to prevent the water in the 

 river from flowing back upon the wheel when the engine is at rest. 



* It must be borne in mind that these figur es refer solely to this county. If the 

 Bedford Level be included, the total area und er steam drainage will be something 

 like 220,000 acres; the number of steam-eiigin es about SO; besides about 210 wind- 

 mills draining other lands. 



