Drainage of {-Fhittlcsea Mere. 
147 
in favour of, the proportion of tlicir charges to the entire cost 
would have been less. 
Having briefly traced the fortunes of Whittlesea Mere, from 
the time when the possibility of draining it seems first to have 
assumed the shape of any definite scheme up to the present 
time, when a complete realization of the most sanguine views 
entertained on the subject has been effected, it may be interesting, 
before ending this paper, to observe what has been the result of 
the change as regards the productive power of the reclaimed 
district. Although 5000 acres feel the influence exercised by 
the Appold pump, yet inasmuch as about 2000 acres were in a 
state of cultivation long before, and now only benefit incidentally 
by being taken into a well-regulated and efficient system of 
drainage, it will be proper, for the purpose of the comparison 
proposed, to confine ourselves to the 3000 acres, covered hereto- 
fore with water, reed-shoals, or sedge. 
Although the fish from the Mere, the reed from the shoals, 
and the sedge from the bog, were doubtless, in their day, of some 
value, and employed, more especially in the case of the reeds, 
no inconsiderable amount of labour in their collection, it would 
lie difficult now to give an accurate estimate of their worth ; and 
jirobably the mention of these as the sole products of the Mere 
and its environs will enable the reader to appreciate sufficiently 
the contrasted produce of the district. 
Of the 3000 acres about one-half consists of the bed of the 
Mere and old reed-shoals. These have now for some years yielded 
abundant crops, under a regular system of cultivation. Of the 
remaining 1500 acres of peat-soil, a small portion has been 
already covered with soil from the Mere, and the remainder has, 
by breast-ploughing and levelling, been brought into a state par- 
tially productive, for it will, as mentioned already, yield indif- 
ferent crops of coleseed and oats, and at any rate is now in a 
condition to receive the warp as fast as it can be laid on. The 
estimation of the produce of the first 1500 acres is comparatively 
easy and to be depended on, but that of the remaining 1500 
must be somewhat vague, for the true value of the warped land is 
not yet established, and a much larger proportion will be in grass. 
The following calculations Avill however be considered, it is 
lioped, to give a fair approximate representation of what the 
produce of the district is worth, both in money-value and in 
the food it will yield "for man and beast : — £ 
600 acres of wheat at 4 qrs. per acre = 2400 qrs. at 40s 4,800 
500 acres of oats at 6 qrs. per acre = 3000 qrs. at 20s. .. .. 3,000 
150 acres of seeds ) i f/% i ^ ^ 07 • r i • Arr\ 
150 acres of coleseed fJ^ f f' ^'^"'^^^'^ ^'^^"^ ^^^^ 
400 sheep at II. ditto 400 
100 acres of raansrold 
8,650 
L 2 
