GENERAL MANAGEMENT 331 



probably known to some of my readers that for many 

 years past the Thames Conservancy have effected re- 

 pairs to parts of the river where the banks and tow- 

 path are Hkely to be injured by the wash of the 

 numerous launches and motor-boats by means of 

 rough walls constructed with bags of dry concrete 

 deposited in situ. The water sets the concrete until it 

 is as solid as a rock, and in time the canvas of the 

 bags rots away. As these bags are simply laid in 

 place dry, they at once adapt themselves to the con- 

 tour of the land on which they are placed, and if the 

 lowest tiers are arranged, say, with three bags side by 

 side, the next tier with two, and the next with one, a 

 solid wall is made which will withstand the action of 

 water for many years. 



Every local adviser warned me that to try to 

 build a weir after this plan would end in failure, and I 

 was told on all sides that the first winter flood would 

 wash it away. The weir was constructed nearly seven 

 years ago and to-day it is stronger than ever. Prob- 

 ably it will outlast the lives of every one of us who 

 assisted in the work. The expense was infinitesimally 

 small — a few sacks of good Portland cement, a few 

 loads of clean, sharp gravel, and a few old sacks and 

 sugar-bags. 



The concrete was mixed in the proportion of three j, 

 parts of gravel to one of cement. I am told by com- ! 

 petent engineers that a very much smaller proportion] 

 of cement is required if only it is fresh and of the very 

 best quality, but I think that in a remote Hampshire 



