it grows, as would defend it from being affected by the water almost as well as if it were a rock. It is likewife an advantage attending this plant, that it grows upon a firm bottom, and chiefly delights in running

water.

If the ftratum of foft earth is not so deep as reach to the furface of the water, and lies upon a ftratum of rock or hard gravel, there will be no occafion for throwing in ftones of any kind. But, as it is difficult to unite the vegetable mold to any of these ftrata, there will always be fome danger of its separating from them in violent inundations; and if the water once get an entry, it will not fail to grow larger and larger by every future inundation. To prevent this inconvenience, it will be neceffary, after you have floped the earth away till you reach the gravel or rock, to cover the place where the edge of the earth joins the inferior ftratum,

with a good many small stones, if they can be found; fowing between them the seeds of any kind of plants that you think are most likely to thrive, which have ftrong matted roots, with as fmall and flexible tops as poffible.

You will eafily obferve, that, from the impoffibility of ever making earth adhere firmly to stone of any kind, it must always be an improper practice to face the banks of a river to a certain height with ftone, which is coped at top with earth.

By these precautions, or others fimilar to them, it is not to be doubted, but that almoft all the banks that are hurt by these accidents might be effectually fecured.

XXIX.

Of Fencing the Banks of Rivers, fo as to confine the Water within proper Bounds, and prevent the Damage that might be done by its overflowing the Fields upon its Banks, in the Time of Inundations,

Another mischief occafioned by the swelling of rivers, not lefs confiderable than the for going, is produced by the water overflowing the rich flat ground that is frequent ly met with on the fides of rivers, which fometimes prevents them from being got laboured at the proper feafon, fometimes fweeps off at once the whole crop, and fometimes deftroys it by covering the whole furface with ftones and gravel, to the unfpeakable detriment of the poffeffors of fuch ground.

§ XXIX,

Of Fencing the Banks of Rivers, fo as to con fine the Water within proper Bounds, an prevent the Damage that might be don by its overflowing the Fields upon it Banks, in the Time of Inundations,

Another mischief occafioned by the fwell ing of rivers, not lefs confiderable than th for going, is produced by the water over flowing the rich flat ground that is frequent ly met with on the fides of rivers, whic fometimes prevents them from being g laboured at the proper feafon, fometime fweeps off at once the whole crop, and fom times deftroys it by covering the whole fu face with ftones and gravel, to the unfpeal able detriment of the poffeffors of fu

groun