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50
disinfectants which should be discontinued, and they will render
profitable a spot which would otherwise be left waste, and they will
further strengthen the banks of the mud-heap. I would point out
that unpeeled willow wands for basket making fetch from £2 10s. to
£3 10s. per ton, and the annual yield of 20,000 cuttings on an acre
of land is from six to seven tons, which we will say will give a value
of £20 per acre, and as there are 30 to 40 acres of dredgings there
would be a return of £600 per annum.
"I trust that the Directors will see their way to try the experiment
of having two acres planted, so that the public health may be improved,
and a new industry created which will cause labour and at the
same time improve the finances of their Company.
"I am, Gentlemen,
"Your obedient Servant,
"FREDK. WM. ALEXANDER,
"Medical Officer of Health,
"Poplar and Bromley.
"P.S.—The planted two acres (the initial expense) would form the
nucleus from which cuttings could be taken to plant further acres.
I shall be only too pleased to forward to the Directors all the
correspondence."
I am pleased to state that the Dock Company adopted my scheme,
and have had two acres of the mud-field planted with 10,000 trees,
6000 for coarse basket work, and 4000 for fine articles. I learn that
there are 50 not 40 acres of land, so that the return will be greater
than stated in the above letter.
BOARD SCHOOLS.
The work of re-drainage has been completed at St. Leonard's Road,
Alton Street, Oban Street, and Bromley High Street Board Schools.
Knapp Road Board School is waiting to be re-drained, and new