Trunk Drainage. 
49 
and IxMiisj infoiinod wlipre lio \vas, lio demanded in astonishment 
if this were " Wansfovd in England 1 " If not actually thus borne 
off, the hay is so much silted as to be utterly spoiled ; and, 
being unfit even for manure, may be said positively to injure the 
land by remaining upon it. The farmers sometimes thresh it to 
b;>at tlie dust out, but it is still a most unwholesome fodder. In 
certain parts of the valley the hay was entirely lost in 1839, 1841, 
1843, 1847 ; and in 1849, and again in 1853, almost all the crop 
was destroyed along the entire course of the Nene. The damage 
in the latter year in grass and hay alone was estimated by a resi- 
dent gentleman, well able to judge, at 20,000/. About ten years 
ago the liay lost was valued at no less a sum than GO, 000/. ; cal- 
culating 2 tons per acre as tlie average yield, and lialf the land as 
the area flooded ; giving 6/. per acre actual damage. The soil 
is of a rich alluvial loamy character, with generally a clayey, 
sometimes a gravelly subsoil ; but it is amazingly deteriorated 
and impoverished by the prolonged continuation of the larger 
winter floods upon it. Live stock are often injured by grazing 
it. From some of the lands the sheep have often to be removed 
in waggons, to save them from sudden and unexpected floods. 
Some of the meadows have been known to be invisible for thirteen- 
weeks together, and from others no produce whatever can be- 
got during unfavourable years. But, notwithstanding all these- 
disadvantages, the present rental of the meadows probably ave- 
rages about 2/. per acre, owing to the scarcity of grass-land in, 
this part of the country, and the consequently eager demand for 
crops of coarse hay raised without any manuring. The land, 
however, is very unequal in value; some " accommodation land"' 
renting as high as 3/. or 5/. per acre, and, again, portions of what 
are called the Wash-lands, below Peterborough, not more than 
lis. It is a fact that the meadows are decreasing in value 
some are mentioned in the Parliamentary Evidence as being now- 
worth only 1/., which, if properly drained, would reach as high asr 
40s. or 50.y. an acre, under the present system of cultivation, or 
rather non-cultivation. But a considerable proportion of the 
land now lying as miserable meadow is far lietter adapted for 
tillage husbandry, and its fine deep fertile earth, if well drained 
and employed in raising garden produce, would realize a rent of 
more than 4/. per acre. 
Agriculture is not the only suffering interest. The navigation, 
between Northampton and Peterborough is in a most inefficient 
state, owing to the defectiveness of the river ; which is a point of 
great consequence, notwithstanding the construction of the present 
railway along the same valley. The river, having naturally a fall 
of more than 170 feet, is held up in levels by 34 locks and 11 
staunches. Each " lock " has two gates to pen the boats or 
VOL. XV. E 
