South Level 



95 



poor soil much acted upon by the frost, but both this and the 

 black land are now extensively clayed, and are very productive ; 

 the depth of the moor varies from 2 to 8 feet^ and is of good 

 quality. 



Much of the soil which has a subsoil of sand (having thus no 

 valuable substance which could be incorporated with and give it 

 strength) j'et remains in a wild state, growing very weak crops. 

 Clay has been carted on to it from adjoining lands with great 

 success, but only in scanty instances, though it is certain that 

 wherever clay is applied to the peat it will answer. The general 

 aspect of the country, before drainage made much progress^ was a 

 region of reed and sedge ; a large portion of Littleport Fen 

 having been let at Is. per acre, into which stock was turned 

 amongst the reed and " turf-bass," and not seen for days to- 

 gether. In winter the country was under water, and fishing and 

 fowling the employment of the inhabitants, who on a few dry 

 spots raised an acre or so of spring wheat for each family, i\fter 

 this succeeded partial drainage, the inhabitants keeping dairies 

 and growing a few oats ; but now the country teems with the 

 produce of corn, seeds, and coleseed. 



A fine tract 'of high land, being a diluvial deposit principally of 

 clay, rises in the centre of the South Level, running from Littleport 

 to Ely. From thence the same ridge continues westward through 

 Thetford, Stretham, and Wilburton, approaching the western 

 boundary of the Fens ; it then advances northward to Haddenham 

 and Sutton, and returns again by Witcham, Wentworth, and 

 Witchford, to Ely, encircling a basin of black land called 



Grunty Fen." This fen, consisting of 1280 acres, would make 

 excellent arable land, but in consequence of its being common 

 to seven bordering parishes, the inhabitants of each place turning 

 in cattle or sheep without any restriction as to numbers, it is 

 likely to continue uninclosed, uncultivated, and unimproved. 

 There is a considerable tract yet unclayed ; the principal part has 

 been done once, and some portions twice. 



A large quantity of underdraining has been done on the high 

 grounds, both with tiles and pipes, which are becoming genera], 

 and with turf. " Turf- draining " is done by depositing sods of 

 dried turf (or ''moor'') in deep narrovz-bottomed drains, so as to 

 form a wedge with the hollow drain beneath; the turfs " ex- 

 panding with the moisture, form a compact and durable mass, 

 preserving open a good and effectual passage for the waters. On 

 the heavy land between Mepai and Ely, in the parishes above 

 mentioned, there are some good pastures, but the principal portion 

 is arable, the fields bounded by neat quick-fences, a large breadth 

 being new inclosures. Barley, wheat, and beans are the principal 

 crops : seeds not being very extensively grown, and oats rarely 



