Trunk Drainage. 
43 
inlet pipes might be stopped at the lower ends, and would then 
percolate through the soil intervening between them and the 
outlet drains, whereby vegetation would be invigorated in the 
best and cheapest manner, and without causing any impediment 
to the use of the ground surface. It appears to us that this 
system, which we propose with some diflidence as a novelty, 
may be favourably adopted where surface irrigation is unattain- 
able and expensive. The operation cannot cost more than 
2/. 10.9. to 3/. per acre ; while the expense of maintenance will 
be trifling compared with the ' Marcite ' or ridge-and-furrow 
surface system of water-meadows." 
By means of the plan above propounded, the Test valley may 
be saved from the frequent floods which, collecting from the 
chalk hills with great velocity, now injure the overflowed fields 
and meadows of clay, peaty, or boggy soil. Perhaps there is 
not an acre that would not be improved in annual value at least 
double the amount of the instalment to repay the cost of the 
undertaking. 
I am anxious to offer specimens of drainage improvement 
suited to all cases that can arise ; but this sphere of combined 
labour having been so universally neglected, there is some diffi- 
culty in discovering any examples in England but those already 
so well known to the honour of our maritime fens and marshes. 
Inland rivers have been the subjects of little amelioration ; still 
I am glad to have it in my power to describe the first work of 
this kind, on an imposing scale, which has yet been undertaken. 
This is now in progress in the valley of tlie river Nene, in 
Northamptonshire ; and, containing nearly every essential feature 
to be found in connexion with any other large stream in this 
kingdom, its history will probably be sufficient as a guide to 
any similar enterprise. 
For some very valuable sources of information concerning 
this improvement I am indebted to George Game Day, 
Esq., of St. Ives, through whose kindness in placing various 
documents and reports at my disposal, I am enabled to furnish, 
in addition to the facts from my personal knowledge and obser- 
vation of the district, some really authentic evidences and descrip- 
tions of the state of the valley, and the means by which the 
difficulties have been overcome. 
The Plan and Section of the Nene Valley will assist in showing 
the course of the river, the position of the water-mills, and of the 
places referred to. 
The sources of the Nene are two springs, one north and the 
other south of Daventry, — about 70 miles lineally distant from 
its mouth, or half way from the Wash to Bristol. The two 
heads unite above Northampton, from which point to the outfall 
