(1) Was the brick rubbish from a new building, or from an old building whilst being pulled down?

From the old house at Abinger²

(2) How many years ago was the rubbish laid down on the road?

About seven years ago

(3) Is the subsoil of a red colour? For if not the colour of the castings must be due to brick-dust.

No the subsoil is sand or sandy mould not red

(4) Was care taken that the castings alone were picked up, and not particles lying loose in the road?

Yes carefully picked up by Horace Darwin in my presence³

(5) Were there many castings on the road?

Yes a good many especially at the edges—not in the middle.

(6) Could you ascertain (as I much wish to know) how thick the layer of brick rubbish is on the road?

Originally 4 to 6 inches. Now worn in the centre to 2 or 3: but the castings were taken from the sides, where it is still 4 to 6 inches

I do not think the particles of brick could have been rolled about by the wind.⁴ The rubbish was laid seven years ago on a much used farm road: on a sandy bottom: about 6 inches thick. It soon became a compact mass; the centre of the road being much used by carts. But did the cart wheels break up and round the particles? I think not: they would squeeze but scarcely rub them— The former castings were taken from the side of the road. Today—16 October I have collected some more from the grass on the margin 18 inches or more from where the cart wheels now go: & where the brick rubbish is covered with grass & a little mould. The brick rubbish here is 5 or 6 inches deep with turf at the top.

I send by parcel four specimens of castings⁵

1. Those from the margin of the brick road above mentioned. These are full of brick particles.

2. A large quantity collected from the walks near the house in a great no of places. In all these walks there is about 6 inches of brick rubbish—sometimes less under 4 to 6 inches of gravel—partly chalk gravel—partly sandstone gravel from Wotton.— I can see no brick particles in this. The bricks were put down as they came from the old house—in large bits—& so I think they lie now

3. A small quantity from the top of a heap of brick rubbish shot into a hole in this field.— It is now covered at the top with grass

4 A small quantity from the concrete— Room No 1. of the Roman villa. The concrete is much broken by frost & covered with vegetation, & the worm workings are not so easy to see as they were

T H Farrer

16 Oct/ 80