13 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

In the pariſhes of Congreſbury, Yatton, Banwell, Win(- combe, Churchill, and Puxton, there are not leſs than three thouſand acres ſubject to frequent inundation. All theſe lands diſcharge the greateſt part of their waters into the river Yeo, and areè under the inſpe@ion of the Commiſſioners of Water-Sewers; but the powers veſted in theſe commiſſi- oners by Parliament are not ſufficient to enable them to di- vert the courſe of the river, or to efe a radical cure.

The tide flows nearly ſeven miles up the river Yeo; and at ſix miles from the mouth of the river the ſpring-tides flow five feet above the level of the adjacent lands.

This would be effe@ually prevented by the dam before mentioned; and by cutting proper lateral drains, the whole diftri&t might be advanced in value 10s. or 15s. per acre:

and all this might be done at an expence which two years

profit would reimburſe. Nothing is neceſfary but efffeCual draining to make it as good land as any in the county. It requires no dung, or any extraneous manure, but may be kept in good heart by the contents of the ditches.

To the northward of this diſtri lie the pariſhes of Kenn, Kingfſton-Seymour, Cleveden, Nailſea, Chelvey, and Cla- verham, poſſeſſing near four thouſand acres, alike ſubject to inundation.

Theſe pariſhes are ſecured from the ſea by a wall built with ſtone and lime, and ele: ten feet above the level of the land within. High tides ſometimes overflow this

vall, and when a ſtrong weſterly wind prevails, at the equi- noxes, the wall is frequently broken down by the impetuo- ſity of the waves, and large portions of the land are covered.

Should this happen at the autumnal equinox, little injury is done; but if at the vernal, it kills the beft graſs, and the crop of the enſuing ſummer is worth but little. Theſe lands diſcharge their waters by two rivers, called the Little Yeos. At