Marsldand. 



113 



known to make up 2 feet in a year, and in some cases only as 

 many inches. Wiien the sea is shut out from the new made land, 

 it continues depositing soil in the deeper water beyond ; and in 

 this manner it is proposed to reclaim nearly the whole of the 

 great estuary called the Wash." The district already inclosed 

 and in progress, comprising altogether about 5000 acres, is called 



Wing Land," in honour of Tycho Wing, Esq., of Thorney, 

 near Peterborough, to whose energy and perseverance the im- 

 provement is mainly attributable. 



An Act has been lately procured for the execution of a gi- 

 gantic and magnificent undertaking, called the " Victoria Level." 

 The plan is to conduct the rivers Ouse and Nene, Wei land and 

 Witham, to a new" general outfall in the centre of the present 

 estuary, and by means of embankments convert the whole bay 

 on each side of the proposed channel into valuable land. It is 

 estimated that there will be 150,000 acres in the new country, 

 extending between Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, and Hunstanton 

 in Norfolk, of which 73,000 acres are already land at the re- 

 ceding of the tide, and 4000 acres are valued at 40Z. per acre. 



But, to return from this digression : south of Marshland coun- 

 try are some very rich pasture lands. There is also some good 

 arable land, and good grazing ground on the high lands which 

 run from Elm in the direction of March. South-west of Elm is 

 the district of Waldersey, principally a moory soil, containing 

 8000 acres. It was drained a few years ago entirely by wind- 

 mills, but they performed their work very badly, as it was cus- 

 tomary during wet seasons for boats to be rowed over the 

 land, which was the habitation of large numbers of wild fowl. 

 In 1832 a steam-engine was erected at a cost of 3000/. It is of 

 60 horse-power : the expense for coal is 150/. per annum, and it 

 drains about 6500 acres of very fine land at a drainage-tax of 

 45. Q)d. per acre. A portion of debt is paid every year out of 

 this sum ; when it is liquidated, the tax can be reduced to Is. 6d. 

 per acre. The waters are raised by one pump, & feet in diameter, 

 which lifts 63 tons of water per minute, from 10 to 20 feet high, 

 according to the height of the tide. A few mills still remain, 

 which are used in addition, upon some private farms, when there 

 is a great fall of rain. It is thought that if Wisbech and Sutton 

 bridges were either removed or enlarged, there would be a 

 natural drainage, without the great burthen upon the land which 

 now arises from the yearly expense of both steam and wind. The 

 land has not all been clayed, but will be in a few years. Under- 

 draining has been tried only as an experiment, and answers so 

 well that it will probably come into extensive operation before 

 many years have elapsed. Bone dust is always used, and with 

 very good effect, for the fallow crop, coleseed, after which oats 



VOL. YIII. I 



