EMBANKMENTS. 217 



join the stone wall and the embankment. This makes a more secure 

 fence than the one we have described, and there is more likelihood 

 of the bank being kept in good preservation. We have formed similar 

 embankments where the soil was of a loamy nature, and both soil and 

 turf were procured along the line of bank, at 2s. per rood of seven yards. 



Should water be required for stock from a stream banked in as we have 

 described, the best plan is to have a stone trough in the field close to the 

 bank, and below the level of the ordinary run of water in the stream, and 

 have the water conveyed from the stream "to the trough by means of an 

 iron pipe laid through the bottom of the bank into the water. The end of 

 the pipe in the water should have a rose upon it, to prevent gravel getting 

 in to choke it; and the other end, dropping into the trough, should have 

 a plug attached to it, to stop the supply of water when necessary. 



When the soil is of a sandy or gravelly nature, and not likely to make 

 a good resistance to water by itself, a mortar wall should be built in the 

 centre of the bank and the gravel thrown up on each side of it ; or a 

 puddling of clay may be built in the centre, in place of the wall, where 

 stones are scarce. 



Where timber is plentiful, and land is wished to be protected against 

 a sudden flood, facings of wood can be quickly put up within a short 

 time by driving down wooden 

 piles, as shown in fig. 83. 



The piles are driven in in an 

 inclined position, and supported 

 at the back by other strong piles, 

 as at b; and the two piles are 

 again connected by a cross sup- 

 port, c, to give strength to the 

 centre of the inclined pile. On 

 the inside the piles are closely 

 lined with planks laid horizon- 

 tally, these planks being securely 

 fastened to the piles by nails. 

 The timber facings may be sup- 

 ported by packing earth firmly in behind them. This cannot be 

 recommended as a permanent bank, and is, on the whole, a costly one ; 

 but it answers the purpose of getting up a protection against sudden 

 floods in a short space of time. 



Embankments are at any time, and under any circumstances, expen- 

 sive operations ; but when judiciously laid out, and the works properly 

 executed, they are of immense advantage to large tracts of land on some 

 estates. Where rivers overflow upon grass-lands, the damage done 



