22 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 1 



quires to be frequently renevred; but where it can 

 easily be procured, the expense is not ureat. 



This much may suffit^e for (he first branch ol 

 this Section, [t is now necessary to i^jve some 

 directions respecting the embankment of such low 

 parts of the coast, as are subjecfe;! to inundation, 

 by the flowing of high tides. The land here al- 

 luded to is not those bare shores that are only left 

 dry at low water, but the flat linJis, salt-marshes, 

 or sea-greens (as they are variously called), com- 

 posed of an accumulation of deposited mud of .a 

 rich quality, fbrmsd partly of the soil washed 

 down ii'om the upper grounds, and partly of such 

 substances as are thrown towards the land by the 

 tide. As these soils and substances accumulate, 

 the surface rises so much in height, as only to be 

 flooded by the hiirlipst spriug-tidps. Such have 

 originally been the rich carses on the rivers Forth, 

 Tay, and others, where, by embankment, and the 

 gradual increase of soil by cultivation and manure, 

 these extensive tracts are now become the most 

 valuable an^l productive land in this [)art of the 

 kingdom. The first thing to be observed, in em- 

 bankments of this kind, is, to ascertain the exact 

 height of the highest flood-tides, so that the em- 

 bankment be raised, at least two feet above what 

 these may ever approach lo. When this is done, 

 the level must betaken, and stak s fixed to the 

 proper height, along the whole line lo be embank- 

 ed. Two frames of wood, ol the exact form of 

 the bank, should be made, and set up at the dis- 

 tance of twenty or thirty leet f om each other, ex- 

 actly on the same level to guide and direct the 

 height and dimensions of its construction; and the 

 same level must be kept throuiJ-hout the whole 

 line. This is more requisite than in the case of 

 rivers, tliat have a descent in their current, and 

 where the height of the bank is re<rula;ed bv the 

 fall of the steam; for the surface of the sea- water. 

 being all on a level, the top of the embankment 

 requires to be exactly parallel to the horizon, with- 

 out a rise or declension in any part. 



As the pressure of the water upon an embank- 

 ment against the tide, is different from that in the 

 current of a river, it is not necessary to have it so 

 straight, or of that uniform smoothness, which is 

 requisite where a ruuninij stream is to iriide along 

 the side of h. It is unnecessary, however, to g:\ve 

 it such turns and windings, or to embrace all the 

 points and indentures of the verge next the wa- 

 ter, which would lengthen iis course, and increase 

 the expense; but it may be carried as near the 

 edge of the land as it is possible to obtain a safii 

 and permanent foundation for the bank. Where it 

 crosses any creeks or hollows, formed by the agi- 

 tation and working of the tide, or by runs of water 

 from the land, it \vill be necessary to increase the 

 width of the base, in proportion" to the depth at 

 such places. 



In forming the bank, the breadth, height, and 

 strength, must be made in proportion to the depth 

 and weight of water it may have lo resist; and, 

 in order to obviate resistance, and to lessen the 

 pressure, the more the slope towards the water 

 approaches to a degree of flatness, the greater 

 will be the firmness and durability of the structure. 

 In difficult cases, it is advisable that the surface 

 next the water should form an angle to a perpen- 

 dicular line, of from forty to sixty degrees, accord- 

 ing to the force to be opposed, and the nature of the 

 materials of which the mound is to be constructed. 



See Fig. 2. of Plate I. Where the foundation is 



firm and solid, I he natural earth of the ground where 

 it is erected may be employed; and wifl answer per- 

 fectly Well for (he body of the bank, and for the in- 

 ner surface likewise; and where the pressure or 

 force of the water is not very violent, ihe slope next 

 if may be formed oi' the same materials. But in 

 cases vvhere the force of the tide and waves, by 

 its exposure to strong winds, operates more vio- 

 lenily against the bank, the outer slope should be 

 formed, to the depth of two feet, with clay, or the 

 strongest earth that can be most conveniently got; 

 and that, as well as the (op, covered with well 

 swarded turf. The inner slope, or that next the 

 field, may be sown with jxrass-seeds. 



The stufl', for fijrming the bank, should be most- 

 ly taken from the side next the water, that as lit- 

 tle of the surfice within may be broke as possible 

 — only by what is taken from the back-cut, or 

 drain, that is necessary along the embankment on 

 that side. 



No stones should be left near the f )0t of the 

 embankment: for the tide, forming eddies round 

 them, would soon make holes, and break through 

 the bank. To guard the bank from the impres- 

 sion of the water, a ftMice, of stake and rice, may 

 be made along the bottom of it next the sea, which 

 will last till the surface on that side is sufficiently 

 swarded, and the mound properly consolidated. 

 Lastly, attention must be paid to diverting any 

 streams, or runs of water that may pass through 

 the ground embanked, and to collect these, if possi- 

 ble, into one or lewchannels, and to give them an 

 outlet at the lowest and most convenient part of the 

 bank. This must be done by a sufficient tunnel, 

 box. or pipe, accordinix to the quantity of water 

 to be discharged, and which must have a proper 

 flood-gate or valve, fixed to the mouih ol' it by 

 hinges on the upper side. 



SECTION II. 



On reclaiming land from the sea, by embankment. 



It is necessary to premise, that, under this head, 

 are included those rivers that have broad estua- 

 ries, and where the tide flows for a considerable 

 way, leaving dry, at low water, extensive shoals, 

 sleeches, or tracts of surf ice, which it is in the pow- 

 er of embankments to exclude from the tide; and 

 where the quality of the surlace is such, that, at 

 no extraordinary expense, it may be reclaimed 

 and converted into arable soil. Such are the 

 Friths of Forth, Tay, Clyde, Cree, Beauly, &c. 

 where great acquisitions of land might yet be 

 made, at a moderate expense. 



The first object to be considered, before at- 

 tempting to reclaim land which at low water is 

 left uncovered by the sea, is, whether or not the 

 quality of the surface to be gained is such as to be- 

 capable of cultivation, and fit for the other pur- 

 poses of agriculture; for, in many cases, what is 

 exposed at low water, and might easily be banked 

 out, is an accumulation, to a great depth, of bar- 

 ren sand or gravel, unfit for any useful purpose. 



On many parts of the coast, however, where 

 the sea at low water recedes so far, as to leave 

 drv larije portions of surlace in the bays and 

 creeks of the shore, the -soil is of a rich and fertile 

 kind, being rather a deposition of fine earth wash- 

 ed down from the land, than of poorer substances 



