CHAPTER IV. 



EXAMPLES OF TIDAL RECLAMATIONS. 



Examples of .tidal reclamations at Lough Foyle. Morecombe Bay, the Dee, the 

 Tay, the Lune, the Humber, the Kibble, the Nith, the Forth, and the Tees. 

 Extent of unreclaimed land in Britain. Line of conservation for estuarial 

 reclamation works. 



Lough Foyle. 



The first case which I shall cite is Lough Foyle a situa- 

 tion where the amount of salt water greatly preponderates over 

 the fresh, and where extensive reclamations have been made under 

 power granted by Act of Parliament. It is, in fact, a pure re- 

 clamation scheme, and I have received, from Mr G. Henry Wiggins 

 of Londonderry, some notes regarding it, from which I extract the 

 following interesting information : After the salt water had been 

 excluded, shallow surface drains were formed, and in about two 

 years rye-grass grew pretty freely, but exceptional spots re- 

 mained barren for some time. The grass was followed by oats, 

 which improved as the salt left the soil. Deeper draining allowed 

 the cultivation of flax and clover. Afterwards, on still deeper 

 draining, all ordinary crops began to grow well, wheat, beans, 

 turnips, mangold, and carrots, but all requiring as much manure 

 as any old upper land. These slob lands yield a great return for 

 manure, but must have manure on the lower and damper portions. 

 Fiorin grass grows well without manure. 



