lOS 



The Marsh District. 



drain and sluice, into the Ouse, above the Eau Brink Cut. It is 

 a great pity that these last mentioned districts should still rely on 

 artificial means of drainage, since, had there not been so much 

 opposition to the Middle Level Commissioners, when trying for 

 their late Act of Parliament, the new works would have been 

 carried out to sea (the outfall below Lynn being in a very bad 

 state, in consequence of its shifting and circuitous channel, and 

 numerous sand-banks), and these fens at any rate, if not the whole 

 of the Middle and South Levels, would have had a perfect na- 

 tural drainage. 



The soil of Marshland Fen is a black peat, formerly so soft 

 that wooden shoes, that is flat boards, were nailed on the horses' 

 feet over the iron ones, to prevent them from sinking in ; and 

 even now it is difficult for them to travel on the wet and spongy 

 roads. This soil was once very deep, but it is now so condensed 

 that the depth varies from only 6 or 8, to 18 or 20 inches. A 

 subsoil of good clay pervades most of the district^ and the usual 

 custom now is to plough very deep, by which this is brought up 

 and mingled with the soil. The course of cropping is much the 

 same as on other good fen land, turnips being grown as well as 

 coleseed, the fallow crop always having about 10 or 12 bushels 

 of bones per acre. No underdraining has been done, as the 

 water in the ditches is seldom more than 18 or 20 inches below 

 the level of the surface; but though badly drained, this fen 

 is much improved in value, having been worth about lOZ. per 

 acre to the fowlers and fishermen, and selling now for bOl. per 

 acre. 



The present state of the Great Level will admit of many im- 

 provements, all on the most extended scale, in order to secure as 

 perfect a drainage as possible. The Ouze, Nene, Welland, &c, 

 and all the minor rivers, must be deepened to the full extent 

 required ; the Victoria " project completed to the full extent of 

 Sir John Rennie's Report, and the fen waters must then be 

 carried to the loicest point towards the sea before they are united 

 with the upland waters. This great scheme will doubtless be 

 accomplished before many generations have passed away ; and 

 the Great Level, thus rendered the most fruitful district in the 

 kingdom, and a new country wrought from the waves of the 

 ocean, will be the marvel of a future age. 



The Marsh District. 



Having now run briefly over the various divisions of the Bed- 

 ford Level, with the contiguous Norfolk Fens, it has been deemed 

 not inappropriate to bring under consideration, before proceeding 

 upwards to the Fens of Lincolnshire, that tract of higher land 



