236 MACIIUS'EKY IX CONNECTION WITH WATEE. 



more gradual sloi^e than the figure represents would be 

 still better. It is on this principle that the stability of the 

 world-renowned Eddystone light-house depends. The 

 base spreads out in every direction, like the trunk of a 

 tree at the roots; and although the spray is sometimes 

 dashed over its lofty summit by the violence of the storm, 

 it has stood unshaken on its rocky base far out in the sea, 

 against the billows and tempests, for nearly a century. 



An instance occurred many years ago in England, where 

 the superiority of knowledge over power and capital 

 without it was strongly exemplified. The sea was mak- 

 ing enormous breaches on the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, 

 and inundated thousands of acres. The government com- 

 missioners endeavored to keep it out by strong walls of 

 masonry and breakwaters of timber, built at great ex- 

 pense ; but they were swept away by the fury of the bil- 

 lows as fast as they were erected. A skillful engineer 

 visited the place, and, with much difficulty, persuaded 

 them to adopt his simple plan. Observing the slope of 

 the beach on a neighboring shore, he directed that suc- 

 cessive rows of fagots or brush be deposited for retaining 

 the sand, which was carted from the hills, forming an em- 

 bankment with a slope similar to that of the natural 

 beach. Up this slope the waves rolled, and became grad- 

 ually spent as they ascended, till they entirely died away. 

 The breach was effectually stopped, and this simple struc- 

 ture has ever since resisted the most violent storms of 

 the German Ocean. 



CONTENTS OF CISTERNS. 



Connected with the subject of hydraulics is the collec- 

 tion and security of water falling upon roofs, in all cases 

 where a deficiency is felt by farmers in the drought of 

 summer. The amount which falls upon most farm-build- 

 ings is sufficient to furnish a plentiful supply to all the 



