96 



ON ENGLISH AVATER MEADOWS. 



profitably executed if tlie altitude does not exceed 1 500 feet above 

 the level of the sea. We do not say that hay could be grown 

 on their rough heathy sides, but could an earlier and richer iierb- 

 age be produced, it would meet a clamant want of the flockmaster. 

 So there is an unlimited field for improvement in the north, and 

 the industry and unwearied exertions of the Scotch seem to be all 

 the more, the greater the ditllculties — ^just like the brave sea-bird 

 which holds its healthiest play Avhen the angry waves rise the 

 highest. 



In conclusion, we subjoin a diagram with some descriptive par- 

 ticulars of Bickford's system of distiibutiug water over a 

 meadow. Generally flooders and meadow farmers are self-taught, 

 because the mode of formation and management are mostly self- 

 evident, and very much, so to speak, a matter of instinct. We 

 have seen meadows perfectly flooded, and the water equally dif- 

 fused over every inequality of surface, by an ingenious man with 

 a good eye, in every respect equal to the plan laid down ; but as 

 advantages are claimed for his mode of carriers, and shallow dis- 

 tributing gutters, feeders and catch work, an epitome of the de- 

 tails may be useful. The system we think is best expounded by 

 Sir S. H. ISTorthcote in the 29th 'No. of the " Journal of the Eoyal 

 Agricultural Society of England," 1852, and ■\\'hich is illustrated 

 in the following diagram : — 



The carriage gutter aa is cut along tlie line of the highest 



the 



ground, and its width and depth are regulated according to 

 volume of water intended to be conveyed. It is guided in its 

 direction conformable to the inequalities of the gound, and the 

 flow of the water. iSText a small catch gutter hh is cut below 

 without any fall from one end to the other ; cc and del are made 

 similar to hb, and the wavings in these lines are constructed for 

 running the water out of the low places, and on upon the high 

 places, — thus giving the water a drop to the heights. The catch 



