G 
Agriculture of Berkshire. 
called a wet one simply because a large amount of rain has fallen, 
nor a dry one because the rain-fall has been small ; for, although 
the land received four inches in one day, it m^iy still have been 
on the whole in a dry state if this ran off quickly and did not 
saturate the soil. It will be seen that by far the greater portion 
of the rain which fell in this year fell during the six months in 
which the temperature was highest, and the power of evaporation 
great ; whereas a very small amount fell during the six months 
in which the temperature was lowest and the power of evapora- 
tion small. 
I have chosen to gi\ e the meteorological account from Michael- 
mas to Michaelmas, considering it most useful for all agricultural 
purposes, as it satisfactorily explains why, during the last sum- 
mer, greater distress for want of water was experienced on the 
hills and dry parts of the county than for many years past. If 
there is a small amount of rain during the autumn and winter 
quarters, when alone it saturates the soil and raises the springs, 
no ordinary amount in the spring and summer quarters can have 
that effect ; consequently it may safely be inferred that a winter 
deficient in rain-fall will in most cases be followed by a summer 
in Avhich a want of water will be materially felt : I name this 
as such seasons much affect agricultural progress. The increased 
application of steam power to agriculture gives additional im- 
portance to the question of the supply of water in dry seasons, 
by the construction of tanks and ponds in high situations. 
Instances are not wanting where the cost of drawing water to 
supply the steam-engine when threshing, has been equal to one- 
half of the whole cost of threshing by horse-power. 
Rivers. — The principal river of Berkshire is the Thames : it 
enters the county at St. John's Bridge, one mile south of Lech- 
lade, in Gloucestershire, and passes the towns of Al>ingdon, 
Wallingford, Reading, Henley, Maidenhead, and Windsor. The 
Kennet enters the county from Wiltshire, near Hungerford, 
passes Kintbury and Newbury, and falls into the Thames near 
Reading, running 25 miles in Berkshire. The Lambourne 
rises in the chalk-hills near that town, passes Eastbury, East- 
garston, Great and Little Shefford, Weston, Welford, Easton, 
Boxford, Bagnor and Donnington, and falls into the Kennet, 
near Newbury, running about 14 miles. The Loddon rises near 
Aldershot, Hants, enters Berkshire at Swallowfield, passes 
Loddon Bridge and Twyford, and falls into the Thames near 
Wargrave, running 12 miles in Berkshire. The Ock rises 
near Uffington, in the Vale of White Horse, passes Wantage, and 
falls into the Thames at Abingdon, running about 20 miles. 
There are two lines of canal in the county. The Wilts and Berks 
extends from the Thames near Abingdon through the Vale of 
