FLOATING. 377 



constructed and the interval then refilled with earth well 

 rammed-in. The earth bank may also be faced with ordinary 

 stone-masonry, or merely with large dry stones, and the trench 

 filled with broken stones or gravel. Where stones are scarce, 

 fascines may be laid parallel to the bank, secured by means of 

 stakes, and covered alternately with stones or earth. 



Other modes of protecting banks consist in a row of piles, 

 which are driven-in in front of the place to be protected, and 

 either bound with wattle-work, or planks or fascines fastened 

 on inside them (Fig. 248). Where wood is plentiful the walls 

 may be of logs 4 to 6 inches thick (Fig. 249), supported by 

 stakes (a), and nailed together 

 with long iron nails. It is, 

 however, always better to 

 employ stone-masonry for the 

 purpose wherever stone is pro- 

 curable, both to economise 

 timber, and because the latter 

 is not durable. Where stone 

 is used for the purpose a good 

 foundation must be supplied, 

 as in Fig. 250, to prevent 

 undermining, and a slope of 

 about one in ten should be 



1- iL'. 2."iii. Stone-facing. 



given. 



As great a hindrance to floating as steep banks, are banks 

 which are too flat, as the stream widens-out in such places, 

 and tends to fall-off in strength, depth, and rate of current. 

 The gravel and other material brought down from above 

 accumulate in such places, forming shoals which the floating 

 timber only passes with difficulty, and many logs become 

 stranded. Improvements thus have for their object to restrict 

 the bed of the stream. 



The simplest method is to drive in a double row of piles as 

 close to one another as the length of the logs which are floated, 

 they demarcate the stronger water from the slack-water near 

 either bank. The piles are high enough to overtop the highest 

 level attainable by the water, and the logs as they float down 

 align the piles and exclude the dead water. 



