SoutJi Level. 



93 



6 or 8 feet long; , when he arrives at the clay, which is found at 

 2, 6, or even 10 feet from the surface, he throws it out, half on 

 each side the pit, taking; out 2 draws (or 2 feet) deep: and 

 when a larger quantity is required, 3 draws. Another portion of 

 black soil is taken off in the line of the trench, and thrown into the 

 hole already made ; another bottom of clay is then thrown up, 

 and the work proceeds in this way until the whole is finished, 

 the clay being spread evenly over the whole surface except where 

 the trenches are. When the clay is at a great depth " pits " are 

 made (i. e. holes) instead of trenches. Such has been the pro- 

 gress of improvement, that the introduction of steam-drainage 

 and the adoption of claying have so condensed and consolidated 

 the land, as to render the practice of paring and burning nearly 

 obsolete ; the Fens having now been retrieved from the desig- 

 nation of a swampy unfruitful plain, to be known as one of (if not 

 altogether so) the richest and most fertile districts in the kingdom. 



Bedford Level. 



South Level. — In noticing the different divisions of the Fens, it may 

 perhaps be as well to begin at the south of the Bedford Level, and so 

 advert to each whilst travelling towards the north. The first, 

 then, is that portion of the Bedford Level termed the South 

 Level," containing about 120,000 acres, south of the old Bedford 

 River, which runs for 21 miles in a straight line from Earith, in 

 Huntingdonshire, to Salter's-lode sluice, near Downham, in 

 Norfolk. The wliole of the districts into which this level has 

 been subdivided have now (or will shortly have) a steam drainage, 

 though many wind-engines still remain standing, to throw out a 

 little of the water as long as they can work without repairs ; and 

 these will not be left long, for almost every time the Commis- 

 sioners meet, orders are given for pulling down another mill. 



Over Fen has an engine of 20-horse power, which throws its water 

 into the West River," or Old Ouse. Cottenham Fen has two engines, 

 one ot" 40, the other 30-horse power, draining from 3000 to 4000 acres. 

 Haddenham Fen has a 60-horse engine which drains 7000 acres. 

 Stretham Fen, about 1000 acres, is drained by one 60-horse engine, 

 and all the above throw into the Ouse. Thetford Fen, about 1000 

 acres, is drained by a 15-horse engine; and Burwell Fen, about 4000 

 acres, by a 30-horse power engine, throwing into the Cam and Ouze. 

 Swaft'ham Fen has an engine of 30-horse power, tlirowing into the 

 Cam. Middle Fen has a 60-horse engine on the bank of the Lark 

 River, draining about 14,000 acres ; and Burnt Fen, 2 engines of 40- 

 horse each, which drain about 14,000 acres, one throwing into the 

 Lark, the other into the " Brandon Eiver," or Lesser Ouse. Milden • 

 hall Fen is drained by a 60-horse engine, throwing into the Lark river ; 

 Lakenheath Fen by a 40-horse engine, which throws into the Brandon 



