For remarks and additional obſervations.

1. The E E N 3.

General hiate of the fens.— The fſen-lands in this county yield but little profit, on account of the great defect in the drainage. They confiſt of about 44,000 acres(including lakes), and form about one ſeventh part of what is called the Great Bedford Level, of which more than 50,000 acres are wholly unconnected with the county now under confideration, as they are drained by a different outfal, as I Hhall have occaſion to notice hereafter. Of theſe 44, 000 acres, about eight or ten thouſand may be called produc- tive; but even theſe are kept, if kept at all, from inunda- tion, at an expence which is equal to near one third part of the rent, and are at all times in a ſtate of extreme

hazard.

Mode of management.— The precarious ſtate of the fens, occaſioned, from the time they were drained, the introduc- tion of a mode of management that was barbarous in the extreme, for nothing was thought of, but getting as much as poffible out of the land, and truſting to a general drown- ing for reſtoring its goodneſs; but now the mode of ma- nagement commonly practiſed, is, firſt, to ſet apart ſome given proportion of the farm, which is held facred from the plough; then, to have one third part of the remainder under the plough; and two thirds in graſs; keeping the whole of that remainder in a fuccefſion of tillage and graſs. That portion which is immediately under the plough, is divided either into three or four ſeaſons for occupation, as follows:

If into three— iſt year— pare and burn, after fix, ſeven, or eight years graſs, and coleſced bruſhed in upon the firſt plowing, but little or none ſuffered to ſtand for a crop, it being fed off in the winter with ſheep; and then generally after one plowing ſowed the 2d year with oats, which are generally ſo rank, as to make it impracticable to have graſs

ſeeds,

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