APPENDIX. 71 



plenty of fand, &c. to form the new-made foil ; after 

 which there is no further trouble than that of planting 

 plenty of fedge or reed-grafs, and other aquatic plants, 

 which are foon formed into a firm agreeable fward. 



To enumerate the various expedients made ufe of in 

 common cafes, or where great exertions were not 

 found necefTary to fecure the banks, would be endlefs. 

 The fimple circumftance of finding fand, and other pro- 

 ductions after floods, detained on the banks by fome 

 flight caufe, fuch as tufts of broom or furze, or, per- 

 ^haps, rank grafs or weeds, was the firft indication, 

 no doubt, to adopt fimple means, which mod com- 

 monly fucceed beft. 



The great fecret in this bufinefs is, to contrive 

 means to collecl: the fand, &c. by the foliage of the 

 brufti-wood, and, when fo collected, to prevent it from 

 efcaping into the river at the time of the ebbing or re- 

 turn of the water into its ufual channel. 



Since fo much depends upon the brufh-wood and 

 branches being as rich in foliage as poiTible, the fmn- 

 mer months anfwer beft for all works of this nature ; 



r 



not only on this account, but becaufe at that feafon 

 labourers make greater progrefs than at any other fea- 

 fon, fince fometimes they muft get into the water. 



The common mode is to make a flight hedge otjlake 

 and rice y along the edge of the water at low -water- 

 mark , it is of no confequence of what fpecies of wood 

 the flakes are compofed, but the brulh-wood, which 



forms 



