9 2 Tlie Disposal of Sewage by Small Towns and Villages'. 
4 acres of osier beds. These 4 acres filter all this raw 
sewage, and it is only after very heavy rains and thunder- 
storms that there is any overflow from the sewers into the 
brook, and that is mostly surface-water. The Chairman of the 
Board — a gentleman of great practical experience, who devotes 
his leisure to the zealous performance of the honorary duties of 
his office — considers that G acres of osiers would be ample to 
purify the largest volume of sewage for many years, even if the 
town should considerably increase ; and he is satisfied that, 
with the exception above stated, the sewage-effluent is now 
perfectly clear and innocuous. The common osier is being 
discarded for the " brown Holland," a variety which is much 
tougher, and sells better than the ordinary sallow. No produce 
has come down in price like osiers. A few years ago, 10/., and 
even 15/., per acre was made of one year's growth. At Dereham, 
the two years' crop of 1887-8 off 4 acres realised only 12/.; 
but this year's growth has fetched 10/., which is still a poor 
price. A few mangel are grown every year on the margin 
of the stream. The services of one man are employed for about 
three-fourths of his time to direct and control the flow of 
sewage, and some extra help is needed to clear out the channels 
and keep down the weeds and rubbish before the osiers grow 
freely in the spring. The whole of the land was drained, 
3 feet deep, before the osiers were planted, and the drains work 
well, and have never been any trouble from the growth of roots 
during the eight years the beds have been at work. 
The cost of the sewerage of Dereham in 1881 was as 
follows : — 
& s. a. 
Contract for pipes, manholes, excavating and 
laying 3,454 14 3 
4a. lr. 2p. land for irrigation, surveyors, and 
arbitration 794 12 1 
Draining and preparing tlie ground . . . 473 10 8 
Compensations for disturbance . . . 88 7 10» 
Engineer's commission 100 0 0 
£4,911 4 10 
In addition to this, there were expenses exceeding the amount 
authorised to be borrowed by about 300/., which cannot now be 
readily ascertained, and which were subsequently paid out of the 
rates. Excepting a few of the outlying portions, the whole of 
the town was sewered, to the extent of about two hundred acres. 
The sewers are all of glazed earthen pipes, varying in size from 
9 to 18 inches, in gradient from 1 in GOO to 1 in 17, and in 
depth from 6 to 23 feet; and the total length is nearly four 
