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60
No. 8. Is situated below the previous beds, and
occupy an area of 3 acres, 35 poles, and the source of
water is derived partly from water that has already passed
from beds 5, 6 and 7, together with a fresh supply from
a small stream which joins the Wandle close to these
beds.
A further bed exists still farther down the Wandle
at Merton, having an area of 11/8 acres, which is fed entirely
by water from the Wandle. This bed was
originally of much larger extent, being somewhere about
16 acres. However, it has been very largely curtailed
during the past few years.
Samples of water from each bed have been examined,
and the nitrogenous organic matter present was not of
sufficient bulk to indicate that any danger was likely to
occur to persons eating cress grown on these beds.
Bacteriological examination showed that the bacillus
Coli Communis was found in the cress grown on Beds 5,
7 and 8, but the number of Coli in each cubic centimetre
was in no instance excessive. I would mention that in
all samples of cress examined such cress was thoroughly
washed in sterile water before examination.
I am, Miss Boobbyer and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
C. M. FEGEN.
2nd November, 1905.