220 
Farming of Oxfordshire. 
dammed up above its natural level, to the serious injury of 
many hundred acres of meadows. Very few boats ply on the 
river above Oxford, and the deposits of mud consequently are 
on the increase. When the railroads, now in process of con- 
struction, come into active operation, the traffic on the river will 
be still more reduced. Notwithstanding the dilapidated con- 
dition of the locks a toll is levied for their use upon all boats, 
and even contributions exacted in one instance where the struc- 
ture itself has perished, and a heap of stones, which impedes the 
navigation, is all that remains to mark the site of the weir. 
Large banks, with quickset hedges, are planted at right angles • 
with the course of the river ; these hold back much water at 
times of flood. The progress of the water is also much retarded 
by raised causeways or roads crossing the level meadows. 
Railways also dam up the waters and prevent the subsidence of 
floods. Willow trees droop their branches into the river, and 
every available spot afforded by alluvial accumulations and 
deposits is turned to account for the growth of osiers. Should 
an islet or sand-bank be thrown up, its extension is encouraged, 
to the serious impediment of the current ; and there appears to 
be no system pursued for clearing its course of the obstruction 
of weeds and rushes. 
In consequence of the long prevailing floods of last season a 
committee of gentlemen was appointed at Oxford last March to 
consider the state of the lands adjoining the Thames. After 
several meetings they published a concise and interesting report, 
to which was subjoined an appendix containing much useful in- 
formation. A proposition emanated from good authority, which 
had for its object the relief of the meadow grounds near Oxford 
from the exposure to frequent inundations. The means by which 
it was sought to be achieved was the construction of a new cut, 
to commence at Sandford, a point where the course of the river 
is seriously impeded by a mill which has not been worked for 
years, and proceeding from thence by various branches to 
Whytham. The estimated cost was 14,000/., a sum far exceed- 
ing the amount which it would be practicable to raise ; and there 
is consequently not the remotest prospect of its realisation. The 
committee proposed widening the watercourse of two of the 
locks, and of eighteen weirs ; enlarging bridges and sluices, 
which would cost about 4000/. They estimate that the land 
which would be directly benefited by these improvements, com- 
prises an area of 12,000 acres, and that an outlay of 7s. per acre, 
" made once for all," would be far less in amount tlian the 
damage sustained during the last twelve months. In addition 
to this the high-water mark of the weirs should be lowered, and 
arches should be pierced through the causeways and railroads. 
