PART IV. 



AGRICULTURE. 



tain soils, or are fit to support the vegetation of saline 

 plants in their actual condition. 



SECT. VIII. OF THE QUANTITY OF LAND WHICH MIGHT BE 

 GAINED BY EMBANKING, AND PRESERVED BY CON- 

 STRUCTING PIERS. 



With respect to the quantity of land which might be gained 

 from the sea or rivers, by embanking in the above way; I have 

 only to say to individual proprietors adjoining shore lands of 

 every description, that nothing more is necessary than to ob- 

 serve how far out the sea ebbs at ordinary tides; and they may 

 i safely conclude that it is practicable to gain and preserve at 

 least half of that land which appears uncovered by the water 

 at that time, and that such land, when gained, will be of equal, 

 if not superior value, to the best parts of their estates. With 

 respect to the quantity that might be gained throughout the 

 whole island, I could not exactly say; but I think it cannot be 

 less than three millions of acres. 



I have offered little, in the foregoing hints, respecting the 

 modes of defending the banks of rivers, or altering their 



