130 



Lincolnshire Fens. 



It would be difiicult to give a correct statement of the varied 

 rotations of cropping, arising from the great difference in the soils, 

 &c. ; but perhaps a five-field system prevails generally on the 

 clay soils, and a four-field system on the sands : — 1st, coleseed, 

 (a few turnips occasionally) ; 2nd, wheat ; 3rd, seeds, about half 

 mown, and the rest grazed with long-wool sheep ; 4th, oats or 

 beans: 5th, wheat. Some plough up their seeds for, 4th, wheat; 

 5th, beans ; and then, 6th, wheat again. On the gravelly, or sandy 

 soils, the following '^wold'' system is adopted: — 1st, turnips; 2nd, 

 oats or barley ; 3rd, seeds ; and 4th, wheat. The clay land is 

 generally ploughed into 8 feet lands,'' which is requisite to keep 

 it dry, the clay being so stiff and retentive that water remains on 

 the surface wherever a horse sets his foot. It will produce excellent 

 turnips, and good crops of clover and ryegrass ; but the seeds 

 must be always got after a first crop. 



Artificial manures are not used to any great extent, it being 

 found that linseed cake given to beasts in the foldyard during the 

 winter is the most economical and beneficial method of improving 

 the strong clays; whilst bones, in addition, are used partially on 

 the sands. 



These fens, when stocked by the commoners with horses, cattle,, 

 sheep, and immense numbers of geese, were worth comparatively 

 nothing ; but a few years ago land was bought at 25/, per acre, 

 and is now (in both fens, though Wildmore has a portion of poor 

 land which makes it altogether not so good as West Fen) selling 

 for 60/. per acre. Since the inclosure, two new churches have 

 been built in Wildmore Fen, and two in West Fen, the land being 

 divided into as many parishes. . The whole country isi now well 

 planted with neat quick-hedges, which are kept under the hook ; 

 the land is for the most part well farmed, and agricultural im- 

 provements generally are being carried out to a considerable 

 extent. 



The highlands of Sibsey, Stickney, and Stickford, which divide 

 the ^-West" from the ''East Fen,^' are an excellent range of 

 stiffish clay soil, upon a yellowish clayey subsoil. About three- 

 fourths of this tract is under-drained ; the principal part is arable, 

 usually managed on the four- field system ; but there is some good 

 grazing ground about the villages, much of which is not sur- 

 passed. 



The JEast Fen.~The "East Fen," a tract of 12,424 acres, is en- 

 tirely separated from all the other fens. The soil of the marshes, 

 extending along the coast from Boston, through Frieston, Butter- 

 wick, Bennington, Leverton, Wrangle, Friskney, Wainfleet, &c., is 

 ■ a rich dark loam of admirable texture ; and near the fen there is a 

 ' breadth of very stiff blue clay. This tract of marsh contains some 

 of the richest grazing lands in the kingdom, which are "the glory 



