INTRODUCTION Ixxxix 



Next to be considered is that portion of country drained by the 

 main stream of the Thames between Eeading and Maidenhead ; it has 

 a rich flora, and a considerable variety of soil and altitiide. The 

 highest ground in the Loddon district is to be found in it, and it 

 contains some of the most beautiful scenery in the county. 



After leaving Eeading the picturesque village of Sonning is reached, 

 with its bridge of eleven arches over the Thames, The Great Western 

 Railway passes through a deep cutting between Reading and Twyford 

 called the Sonning Cutting, on the sides of which Filago apiculata occurs 

 in great plenty, and LycojJsis arvensis, Reseda Luteola, and Erodium cicut- 

 arhnn are very abundant. Lepidium campestre, L. heterophyllum, var. 

 canesce)is (L. Smiihii), Erigeron acre, Verhascum nigrum, V. Blattana, and 

 Trifolium arvense have also been found. In addition to the usual plants 

 which have already been noted, the Thames here affords Acorus Calamus. 

 Leucojum aestivum, Diiosacus inlosas, Scirpus maritimus, and S. sylvaticus have 

 been recorded from the neighbourhood. 



\Vargrave\ which is pleasantly situated on the Thames at the base 

 of well-wooded chalk hills, is also in the main drainage of the Thames. 

 Wargrave Marsh, which lies between the village and Henley, on the 

 Berkshire side of the stream, is now to a considerable extent drained, 

 but pools and backwaters still afford Hydrocharis, Utricidaria, Shan lati- 

 folium, Typha, Apium innndatum., and the marshy meadows Pediciilaris 

 ixdustris and other marsh plants. Cnscida europaea grows on nettles and 

 other plants on both sides of the river ^. 



The picturesque and -well-wooded hills known as Bowsey Hill 454, 

 Crazey Hill 336, and Ashley Hill 358 feet above the sea, with the 

 contiguous common of Warren Row, afford not only a delightful 

 country for Avalking, but also a very representative flora : here occur 

 not only many of the plants characteristic of the Chalk formation, but 

 the London Clay, of which the hills are to a great extent composed, 

 gives a home to many marsh and bog plants. Hei-e have been found 

 Daphne Mezereum, D. Laweola, HeUeborus vijidis, Veronica montana, Ehjmus 

 europaeus, Melampyrum pratense, Lathyrus ynontanus, L. Nissolia, Hyoscyamus, 

 Polygonatum midtijlorum, Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, Osmunda, Galanthus 

 nivalis, Carex vesicaria, C. paniculata, C. flava, Ophrys muscifera, Orchis lati- 

 folia, Scutellaria minor, Cephalanthera pcdlens, and Fragaria elatior. 



Opposite to Henley, on the Berkshire side of the river, is the 

 beautiful estate of Park Place, once the residence of Frederic, Prince 

 of Wales. An avenue, in which Clematis Vitalba is a very conspicuous 



1 The sign of the George and Dragon at Wargrave was painted by Mr. 

 G. D. Leslie and Mr. Hodgson. 



2 The flora of the river banks is so excellently described from an artistic 

 point of view by Mr. G. D. Leslie in Our River, that I regret being unable to 

 find space for it. 



