Protccliiii:; KIvcf Sides. 337 



of rivers is more expensive. Thinnings of young spruce plantations, 

 having the brandies left on, may be placed perpendicularly and packed 

 close together ; the -whole to be interwoven with large branches, until 

 a complete mass of ■wicker- work is formed, to which may be added for 

 stability a few long piles. This form of bulwark must be commenced 

 at the side, and as tire upon tire is laid or intermixed with stones the 

 whole mass gradually sinks to the bottom of tiie river, and when 

 sufticiently well compressed to permit of carting, all material should 

 be carted over the newly formed bank, so as to render the work more 

 compact. When properly done this style of bulwark is capable of 

 resisting the most strenuous efforts of the water. 



If the bank is moderately high, and the soil of a strong adhesive 

 i^uality, fagots of brushwood laid at right angles with the stream, 

 or the ends slightly inclining downwards, are well adapted for 

 resisting the force of the current. When -a breach is actually made 

 in the bank, nothing can eriual tree roots as material for stopping or 

 filling it. Built with ordinary care, the S[)urs get interlaced in a most 

 formidable manner. From our own experience we can testify to their 

 merit, and strongly recommend them to all having work of the kind 

 to execute. 



When danger is to be apprehended from rivers (jverflowing theil? 

 banks, the sides should be sloped to a declivity of one foot in four from 

 the surface to the bottom ; then form a frame of rough timber to be 

 laid on this slope, and carefidly cause}'ed witli stones, and afterwards 

 covered with fine sand. The frame may be raised a few feet above 

 adjoining field by being supported with a wall behind; Where 

 fagots are scarce and stones plentiful, this sort of bulwark answers two 

 purposes — it protects the bank and utilizes the stones, often an 

 impediment to the plough. A frame of wood similarly constructed 

 niakes a capital protection for piers of bridges, and can be erected 

 perpendicular or diagonal as deemed necessary. 



If the soil and subsoil be clay or loam resting on gravel, the 

 bank should be sloped as described ; the declivity covered with 

 strong sods of a rushy nature compressed with rannners, and done 

 early in summer to give the sods time to unite with the solid ground. 

 If this is attoided to, the rushes will throw out all over the slope a 

 mass of roots impervious to the water's encroaching proclivities. 



The accumulation uf gravel banks in the centre of the river 

 requires only to be removed to give the current a clear run, and if 

 attended to in time this obstruction can be removed with little 

 expense. 



As summer is the proper time for repairing river sides, willows can 

 be planted on the banks the following autuum. The \villow luxuriates 

 in the innu'^diate vicinity uf water ; it tlaows uut thick matted roots 



2 A 



