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other plank (though elm is certainly bed) will 

 keep the fod from falling in ; and the grafs- 

 roots, when a little grown, will give it a com- 

 padnefs, and make the parts of the mould clofc- 

 ]y adhere. I have known land thus treated af- 

 terwards ploughed, and anfwer extremely well. 

 This draining is generally cviWtd JJooulder-drain- 

 ing, Thoufands of acres in mountainous coun- 

 tries might be improved wonderfully by means 

 of drains, which would anfwer the double pur- 

 pofe of taking off the redundant water, or of 

 retaining and diftributing it in dry feafons. 



On the tops of mountains the vapours float- 

 ing in the atmofphere are attra6led, condenfed 

 by cold, and precipitate in rain, dew, &c. The 

 minute particles of water, by their gravity, ea- 

 fily penetrate through bedsoffand and light 

 earth, till they are flopped in their defcent by 

 firmer or more denfeflrata, fuch as beds of clay, 

 ftone, &c. &c. and colledled in the cavities 

 and fubterraneous caverns which nature has 

 formed forrefervoirs. The water thence ifTues 

 out at the fides of the mountains j and by 

 means of drains properly cut it may be convey- 

 ed in any diredion, overflow the meadows if 



neceflary 



