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602 Additions and Correftions

might be without. The fame fimple method might fometimes, perhaps, protect the banks of large rivers expofed to the waves when other methods fail*.” But“ the mot{t common caufe of rivers’ encroaching on their banks is, the refiftance occa- fioned by a fudden bend. In flat countries, apt fometimes to be overflown, where there are any fuch bends or windings in the rivers, it would be of great ad- vantage to ftraighten the courfe as much as poflible; for as every impediment or obfiruGtion will naturally caufe the water to rife higher than it otherwife would do, and as fuch bends have that effect, confequently in the time of a flood tne waters will overflow a greater extent of country, and toa greater depth, than if the river had a free and uninterrupted courfe ftraight forward. If the windings of the river cannot be altered, and that encroachments are making on fome part of the banks, it muft firfi be confidered whether the force of the water can be diverted to another place where no injury can be done+.” See Plate XXXVIII. Fig. 2. On the river Nith, in Dumfriefhire, it ts obferved,“a good deal has beem done in this way by Mr. Millar, of Dalfwinton. See Plate XXXVIII. Fig. 3.. As the river was encroaching moft rapidly, and feemed inclined to take a new courfe, which would have deftroyed fome very fine land, and done a great deal of mifchief in that part of the country—To prevent this, Mr. Millar made a large cut about four hundred yards in length, and threw in a great quantity of{tones quite acrof& the river to direct its courfe ina ftraight line. This had in a great meafure the de-

fired effect, by totally preventing its progrefs; but now it began to encroach on its

banks at another part. He at firft endeavoured to prevent this by driving in, ata confiderable expenfe, a number of piles at a little diftance from the bank, and wattled them with willows, branches,&c. thinking thereby to protect the bank. The piles were drove in with heavy mallets, apparently firm into the ground; they continued fo for fome months till a heavy fall of rain came on, which fwelled the river, undermined the piles, and carried them all away. But it is in vain to think

of piles doing any good in fuch a fituation unlefs firmly driven in by a pile»

engine, for it is not poffible to drive them in properly with mallets. This mu& have been the caufe of their giving way fo very foon. The piles not fucceeding, he was refolved to try another plan. Several of his adjacent fields being covered with an immenfe quantity of ftones, he ordered them to be gathered and thrown into the river, fo as to form a jutty alittle way above the injured bank. Being obliged to go from home about that time, and leave the execution of the work to fome country people, they carried out this jutty too much at right angles tothe ftream; it had

* Beatfon in Communications to the Board of Agriculture, Vol, II.- f Ibid. 2,