Xlvi FLORA OF BERKSHIRE 



ienwifoUa, Verbascum nigrum, Papaver hybridum, Cerastiuni arvense, Spiraea 

 Filipendula, Saxifraga granulafa, Scahiosa Columbaria, Orchis morio, Allium 

 vineale, Avena pubescens^ A. pratensis, Brachypodium pinnatum, Sagina nodosa, 

 Peplis, Trisetum xrratense. 



There is no great development of Low-level or Valley Alluvial 

 deposits in the Berkshire portion of the upper part of the Thames 

 Valley, but the junction of the Ock with the Thames is marked by 

 a wide expanse of alluvial meadows. These are present on a smaller 

 scale at Sutton Courtney, Wittenham, Basildon, and Pangbourn, 

 where, as on the Ock, the alluvium consists principally of silt. The 

 Pang stream near Bucklebury runs through alluvial fields formed of 

 peat, and peaty clay above silt ; along one of the watercourses which 

 runs through the alluvium the bottom is covered with spherical 

 calcareous concretions, half an inch to one inch in diameter. It is on 

 the banks of the Kennet that the deposits of alluvium reach their 

 greatest development and become of a most interesting character. 

 This well-mark-ed deposit is the origin of the celebrated irrigated 

 water-meadows of the Kennet, which are situate upon alternate beds 

 of peat, clay, and shell marl, the last substance being made up of the 

 debris of fresh-water shells belonging to still living species. The 

 deposit of peat occurs as a strip varying from a quarter of a mile to 

 one mile in width, with a thickness of from 5 to 15 feet. It contains 

 branches of trees, fir-cones, nuts, and seeds— in fact, remains of the 

 oak, alder, willow, fir, birch, hazel, with mosses, reeds, and liorsetails. 

 Among the animal remains have been recognized the bones of the 

 red deer, the wolf, the beaver — Beaver Island is nam«d on a map of 

 the Kennet— badger, otter, bear, roe-deer, wild boar, Cervus elephas, 

 Bos primigenius, B. longifrons, &c. With these have also been, found 

 a human skull of high antiquity accompanied by rude instruments. 



The peat has been extensively dug for fuel in the neighbourhood of 

 Newbury, and the ashes form a valuable fertilizer, probably OAving to 

 the many crystals of selenite contained in the peat. During the 

 recent drainage opei'ations at Newbury I noticed a considerable 

 quontity of pinewood in the peat which was being exposed, together 

 with what was probably the remains of sedge vegetation. 



By the Lambourn, near the villages of the Sheffords, there are peaty 

 deposits, which were dug for fuel about a century since. 



The alluvial meadows possess a flora which, though perhaps not 

 very rich in specific forms, includes many interesting species, and 

 individuals of more common kinds in countless numbers. Among 

 the plants which are most characteristic are Thalicirum Jlavum, Banun- 

 culus Lingua, R. hederaceus, B. Brouetii, R. trichuphyllus, R. sceleratus, Caltha, 

 Roripa sylvesiris, R. palustris, R. amphibia, Barbarea Vulgaris, Cardamine 

 amara, Brassica Rapa, Viola canina, Polygala vulgaris, Stellaria palustris, S. 



