406 



Improvement of Peaty Ground. 



some principle defective in the composition of the soil : that 

 principle is cohesion, and can only be supplied by clay. The fen 

 farmers of Lincolnshire accordingly apply clay to peat-land by a 

 process which has been carried on largely in the fens for many 

 years. The operation and its effects are detailed in the following 

 letter with which Lord Sandon has furnished me : it is from Mr. 

 Cooke^ who manages Lord Harro why's estates in Lincolnshire : — 



''Digby, March bth, 1841. 

 " My Lord, — I forwarded by Deacon's waggon yesterday from Grantham 

 a small box, containing specimens of the soil of Digby Fen. The 

 clay is 4 feet from the sm-face. The plan I pursue is to fallow the 

 land for cole or turnips, laying on 1 5 bushels of bones per acre. In 

 the winter I set out the lines for trenching 11 yards apart, and mark 

 out 3 feet in width for the trench, to be dug down through the peat, 

 which is 3 feet deep, with sides sloping outwards ; so that, when the 

 surface of the clay is reached, the lov/er part of the trench is 4 feet wide. 

 We then dig out 4 feet in depth of clay, throwing it out on both sides, 

 so that the mass of clay thrown out is 2 feet deep and 4 feet wide 

 throughout the whole length of the trench. The expense is 54s. per acre. 



1st year. — In the original state of the soil the produce £. s. d. 



is 5 qrs. of oats, 10 stone gross, at 20-5. per qr. .500 

 2nd year. — Seeds (herbage thereon), 4 sheep per acre, 



at Sd. per head, from the 1st of April to the 1st 



of October 14 0 



3rd year. — 20 bushels of very light wheat, say 16 stone 



gross, if clean enough for seed 50^. per qr. . .650 



£12 9 0 



1st year. — After trenching it produces 6 qrs. of oats per £. s. d. 



acre, 12 stone nett, at 24^. per qr. . . .740 

 2nd year. — Seeds (herbage thereon), 7 sheep per acre, 



at 3d. per head, from the 1st of April to the 1st 



of October 2 2 0 



3rd year. — 30 bushels of wheat per acre, at 58.?. per 



quarter, 17J stone nett . . . . , 10 17 6 



£20 3 6 



Throughout the fen the soil is a vegetable surface, upon a clay or gravel 

 bed ; if the latter, the land is of but little value for want of clay to give 

 it solidity. The calculations I have made are applicable to the fen- 

 land in the following parishes : — Digby, Dorrington, Ruskington, and 

 An wick. 



" I shall be very happy to leave the above remarks in your Lord- 

 ship's hands to make whatever use of them your Lordship may think 

 proper. 



"I am, my Lord, 



" Your Lordship's obedient humble servant, 



" George Cooke." 



