328 
Farming of Hampshire. 
holes showed that the water stood at a depth of 4 feet, * being 
below the level of the river and tributary streams close by, for 
this simple reason — that the drainage-water passes under them. 
There can be no manner of doubt as to the success of this remark- 
able system of di'ainage. However, the work cannot stop here. 
A body of water has been carried from these areas to a lower 
level, and must be carried on somehow till it reach the sea. For 
this the co-operation of the proprietors, under some more stringent 
Act of Parliament than the existing one, is necessary.f 
* Since this was ■written I have been favoured "with the following tabular state- 
ment of experiments at Broadlands, showing the depth to which the water has 
been lowered in the ground by underdraining and the fluctuations in the water 
level according to the rainfall : — 
1861. 
Fobraary 
JIarcli 
April 
May . 
June . 
July . 
August 
September 
October . 
November 
December 
Depth of Water in Test-holes below Surface of Ground. 
Minimum 
1 )opth 
during 
Mouth. 
Ft. In. 
3 0 
.1 9 
4 0 
3 7 
3 7 
3 10 
4 1 
3 5 
3 11 
Circumst-Tnces 
luider which 
Minimum 
occurred. 
After 3 d.iys' rain 
amounting to 
0-55 inches. 
After O'.T.'j inches 
of rain in 1 day. 
At begiiming of 
the month. 
After 0-95 inches 
of rain in 1 day. 
After 1-OU inches 
of rain in 1 day. 
A fter 0-87 inches 
of rain in 2 days. 
Little rain . 
After 0-45 mches 
In 1 day preced- 
ing continuous 
rain. 
At the beginning 
of the month. 
After 1-GO inches ! 
of rain in 3 days. 
After 0-4-t rain in | 
2 days. 
Maximimi 
Depth 
during 
Month. 
Ft. In. 
Circumstances 
under which 
Maximum 
occmTed. 
After 4 days' ces- 
.satlon of rain. 
After 3 days' ces- 
sation of rain. 
After continued 
cessation of rain. 
After continued 
cessation of rain. 
At the beginning 
of the month. 
After 5 days' ces- 
sation of rain. 
After continued 
cessation of rain. 
After several days' 
cessation of rain. 
At end of month, 
never less than 
4 feet 5 inches 
for 26 days. 
At the beginning 
of the month. 
At the end of the 
month. 
Eainfall. 
Monthly 
Rainfall 
at 
South- 
ampton. 
Monthly 
Eainfall 
at 
EUng. 
Inches. Inches. 
1-52 2-92 
1-83 
0- 27 
1- 39 
3-29 
3-19 
0-CO 
3- 02 
0- 78 
4- 61 
1- ]e 
2- 25 
0- 39 
1- oC 
3- 94 
4- 59 
0-60 
3-15 
0-77 
3-50 
2- 02 
Number 
of Days 
in which 
Eain 
fell at 
South- 
ampton. 
The minimum quantity of water discharged by the underdrains during the above 
period of 1 1 months was about fifty gallons per minute, and the maximum quan- 
tity exceeded 90 gallons per minute, showing the very large amount of evapora- 
tion there must have been before underdraining. 
t Further legislation has already applied a remedy. " The Land Drainage 
Act, 1861," passed since this Report was drawn up, refers (in Parts 1 and 2) to 
district drainages requiring combined works, and powers are given enabling pro- 
prietors of the lower lands to remove mills, dams, weirs, and other impediments to 
the progress of the upland waters towards their natural outfall on payment of com- 
pensation, while two-thirds in extent of the injured district may oblige the remain- 
ing one-third to join in the cost. Part 3 refers to outfall works to be carried 
out by individuals, such as easements for the passage of drainage water through 
