On Embankments. 295 



and fertile kind, being rather a deposition of fine earth, wash- 

 ed down from the land above, than of barren gravel or pebbles 

 thrown up by the sea. Land of that description will, in ge- 

 neral, amply repay the expense of the embankment ; the 

 amount of which must depend upon the depth of the water, 

 the force of the tide, and the prevalence of winds in that 

 quarter. 



At the entrance of large rivers, whose estuaries are wide, 

 and in which the tide ebbs and flows, immense tracts are fre- 

 quently left bare at low water, where much fertile land may 

 be acquired. Embankments, in such cases, have strong 

 claims to the consideration of those active and public-spirit- 

 ed individuals, whose estates are contiguous, and by whom 

 the work may be executed at their joint expense. 



The plans for carrying on such undertakings, do not be- 

 long to this work ( 48 ). But from the preceding observa- 

 tions, it is sufficiently obvious, that embanking is one me- 

 thod of improving, or acquiring land, well entitled to gene- 

 ral attention, and in many cases, to public encouragement. 



Concluding Observations to Chapter III. 



Whoever has fully considered the various particulars above 

 detailed, must be astonished at the perfection, to which these 

 branches of the art of agriculture have been already brought, 

 in our time, and in this country. These were greatly pro- 

 moted, by the establishment of a Public Institution, whose 

 object was, not only to collect and diffuse useful informa- 

 tion, but to excite a general spirit for its advancement. 

 From the processes above described, it is evident, that 

 there is hardly any soil, however barren, which may not 

 be rendered in some degree productive ; and whose fertility, 

 under judicious management, may not even be periodically 

 increased. With such means at our command, with such a 

 foundation of national prosperity, as an improved system of 

 agriculture furnishes, there can be no doubt, that the sub- 

 jects of this realm, if wisely governed, may enjoy all the ne- 

 cessaries, most of the comforts, and many of the innocent 

 luxuries of life. 



