72 
On the Tussac Grass. 
hole from the sides of the vegetable matter — and a bill or axe. 
And each man has on a large pair of fen-boots, which are made 
water-tight. Before the workman commences operations he 
drives a strong stake deep into the end of the drain, on to which 
a strong rope is fastened, with a noose tied full of knots; this 
hangs down the hole and by it. When he has finished by 
throwing out the quantity of clay required, he pulls himself up 
out of the pit. But sometimes the men are compelled to do so 
before the work is finished, in consequence of the drains slipping 
in upon them. The bill is in constant requisition to cut and 
clear out the stumps and roots of trees, which are found just 
upon the fen clay, thus evidently proving that this clay was the 
original surface of the soil, and that the vegetable matter had 
grown up and risen above them. But by the perfect system of 
drainage now adopted, the loose fen has been so much condensed 
that many of the old fenmen say the clay has risen, as it is much 
nearer the surface now than years ago, forgetting, as they do, that 
it is the condensation of this loose spongy soil which has brought 
the surface nearer the clay. 
The lands are ploughed with a very light wooden plough, with 
a wide breast and a very wide share, about 12 inches wide, and it 
is but little labour for the horses. At the head of the plough is 
a foot rut, made of wood, and a wide piece of wood on the end, 
to prevent the plough going deep ; if the foot was not wide, it 
would cut into the soil. The coulter is a circular piece of iron 
plate, sharp at the edges, which revolves and cuts through 
the vegetable mould. The corn is generally drilled in a work- 
manlike manner, and I never saw wheats looking better than they 
did in January. Few sheep are kept in this fen country. The 
portion of land in clover and rye grass is mown for hay, and the 
aftermath fed with sheep. 
Ickleton, Feb. 22nd, 1846. 
IV. — On the Tussac Grass. From the Governor of the 
Falkland Ishands to Viscount Palmerston. 
My Lord, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a 
note from your Lordship, dated 5th Aj)ril, 184.5, and have much 
pleasure in attending to the wishes therein expressed. I beg to 
state that the person who collects the I'ussac seed is a poor man 
named C. J. DettlelT (a native of Hamburgh), whom I am en- 
couraging to make a trade with it. 
The price charged at present for the seed (50*. per pound) ap- 
pears to be high, but it takes a long time and much care to collect, 
