Drainage of Wliittlesea Merc. 
Composition of Clay, No. 2, undcrlijimi the Second IStratum of Brown Peat 
in the bed of Whittlesea Mere (sent by Mr. Wells). 
Moisture 2-52 
Organic matter and water of combination .. 4*70 
Oxides of iron and alumina 10"68 
Phosplioric acid '16 
Sulphate of lime '25 
Carbonate of lime 11"74: 
Carbonate of magnesia 2"12 
Potash and soda 1'32 
Insoluble siliceous matter 6(j'51 
Composition of White Li(]ht Suhstance {peaty marl), the Upper Stratum of 
the bed of Whittlesea Mere (sent by Mr. Wells). 
Moisture 0'31 
Organic matter (peat) .. .. ' 17'34 
Oxides of iron and alumina I'Ol 
Phosphoric acid '03 
Carbonate of lime 64' 77 
Magnesia '30 
Sulphate of lime 1-87 
Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) 5'37 
100-00 
Augustus Voelckek. 
lloyal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 
June 22, 18G0. 
The following memoranda may be not unworthy of record as 
the results of an interesting day spent in examining the Mere, in 
company with Mr. Wells, Mr. Laurance, his agent, and Mr. Cole, 
late steward to Captain Wells on a Mere farm. 
Of the information given to me all that relates to general 
management or scientific research was derived from Mr. Wells or 
his agent. Mr. Cole, on the other hand, was well qualified to 
speak, not only to farming details, but also of the nature and 
value of the old products of the Mere and its surrounding fen, 
which had been hired by his father and himself up to the time at 
which the Avork of reclamation commenced. 
It appeared that the fishery had been reckoned to be worth 
about 30/. a-year ; the 200 acres of reed-bed which fringed the 
Mere produced annually 1000 bundles of reed, worth 51. per 
acre ; the sedge which grew outside the reed-bed was cut once in 
3 years, and produced about 1000 bundles, worth 1/. per acre ; 
the 1200 or 1300 acres of fen held with the Mere had an 
average value of about 2s. per acre for the joint purposes of 
sedge-cutting and rough pasturage. 
With these products may be contrasted the following estimate 
