444 REPORT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF MEADOW PASTURAGE. 



leens at E. The upper portion of Torran leens is thus hermeti- 

 cally secured from the flood-water of the river and the surface 

 water of the hill. The rainfall during floods is contained in the 

 cut-off loops of the old channel. At G- there is a self-acting sluice, 

 which shuts when the flood-water rises, and opens when it falls. j 



The new channel is 50 feet wide to above cross line on plan, 

 and the remainder is 35 feet. From CI to E it is carried 

 along the west side of leens, between the embankment and the 

 high ground, the water of which falls directly into it. From E 

 to D it is carried across the leens between the embankments, 

 and from D to B it is carried along the old channel, on the east 

 side of the leens between the embankment and high ground, the 

 water of which also falls into it. Thus a channel of sufficient 

 capacity has been made, that carries down the water on the east 

 side of the upper portion of the leens, across between the upper 

 and lower portions, and down the west side of the lower portion 

 and Lamsdale leen to the loch. All risk of foodie g is prevented 

 by the embankments, which confine the flood-water between 

 them where the channel crosses the leens, and throw it out 

 against the high grounds above and below. The lower embank- 

 ment is carried down past the leens nearly half way to the loch. 

 Since the works were executed in 1865, flood-water has only 

 once or twice risen to the embankments, and the highest time, 

 when the channel was obstructed by ice, only to an average 

 height of 15 inches up the embankments. 



The works have answered the purpose for which they were 

 intended perfectly, and "Torran leens" are thoroughly secured 

 from flooding. 



Cost of Works. 

 1865. 

 Dec. 27. — To Geo. Sinclair, amount of first contract 



for new channel, . . . L.281 



„ 27. — To Do., additional cost of do., fixed by Mr 



Smith, . . . . . 32 12 



„ 27. — To Do., cost of embankments, fixed by Mr 



Smith, ."' . . . 24 15 



„ 28. — To Geo. M'Kay, account of woodwork of 



three bridges, . . . 15 5 9 



,, 28. — To Do., account of self-acting sluice, . 5 11 10 



May 29. — To W. R. Tait, account for survey and 



reports, . . . 12 12 



L.371 17 1 



1900 cubic yards of soil have been excavated and wheeled to 

 the leens side of channel, sloped on the channel side, and faced 

 up with turfs to a height of 4 feet, for the embankments. The 

 whole excavations have been sown with grass seeds. 



The whole leens are about 100 acres in extent — Torran leens 



