222 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



doors are not hung so tight as will prevent the escape of water from 

 the drains. 



Where the water in a river is constantly at such a height as prevents 

 the drains being discharged into it, the drainage-water is collected into 

 a large tank, upon which is placed a pump to lift the water out. These 

 pumps are sometimes worked by steam-engines, such as are used in 

 draining the fens of Lincolnshire ; or the pumps may be worked by the 

 wind acting upon sails, such as are used in working windmills. One of 

 the latter was erected by the late Mr Scott on Major Stapylton's estate 

 of Myton Hall, for the purpose of pumping the water from the drains 

 on the home-farm into the river Swale. 



There are several descriptions of embankments in use. 



First may be mentioned the mound of earth raised up and sloped on 

 each side, as described in this chapter. 



Next, we frequently meet with banks of piles of timber, brushwood, 

 or stones put loosely together. These are not so much used for pre- 

 venting the water from overflowing, as to keep it from washing away 

 the banks, especially where the soil is light and sandy. The young 

 thinnings of plantations are frequently used for this purpose, such as 

 larch and Scots pine trees. These are driven in a row into the soil in 

 front of the river-banks, and put close together, or they can also be 

 driven in at distances of from two to five feet apart ; and then the 

 branches of trees and underwood is twisted in about them, so as to make 

 a close bank. It is much better to use stakes and piles of the poplar, 

 alder, and willow timber, than of any other kinds, as, if the bark is left 

 on these kinds, they will grow on the banks, and last much longer in a 

 damp position. 



The most substantial, although at the same time the most expensive, 

 embankments to a river or pond are those made of solid masonry. 

 These are necessary in many instances. A fine example of a stone 

 embankment is to be found at Balmoral, the Queen's residence in Aber- 

 deenshire. Some years ago it was found that the river Dee was working 

 in upon the flat of land on which the castle is erected. In order to 

 prevent this, the banks were built up with a solid wall of stones laid on 

 a slope and without mortar. This was carried out under the superin- 

 tendence of Dr Eobertsbn, her Majesty's commissioner. 



Light sandy soils on river -banks and sea -shores can be prevented 

 from shifting by planting on them the plant called the Elymus arenarius, 

 the leaves of which are used for the manufacture of mats. There is, 

 however, some difficulty in getting it fixed in the soil before floods come 

 and wash it away, as it is very apt to be washed away before it has in- 

 serted its roots in the sand. The best way to prevent this is to have 



