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TJie Country Gcntleiiiaiis Magazine 



spade, to be raised from time to time and 

 altered in position so that the water may run 

 over and the excess caught in the lower 

 drain and treated in the like manner. The 

 turf coming out with the furrow should be 

 gathered in heaps, mixed with lime, nitrate, 

 or muriate of ammonia, and spread evenly 

 over the surface ; although some of the sur- 

 face is lost, that loss is much more than com- 

 pensated by the top-dressing so applied — a 

 sort of what drainers call sheep draining, ex- 

 cepting that no main drain is used as in such 

 sheep draining, 



THE ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION. 



1 have seen this plan tried, and have tried 

 it myself with the most satisfactory and per- 

 manent results. Its great recommendation 

 is its cheapness and efficiency, and it can be 

 undertaken by small holders without any 

 serious outlay. All water, whether from 

 heavy rains, brooks, springs, or drained land, 

 may be so converted to use, especially 

 when assisted by the fertilizers before stated. 



1 have known three crops of Italian rye-grass 

 mown in one year, treated by irrigation com- 

 bined with sewage. Even water alone con- 

 tains in nearly all instances an amount of 

 fertihsing salts so diluted that it is at once 

 absorbed and assimilated by the pastures. 

 Water is always impregnated with atmo- 

 spheric air and a minute quantity of carbonic 

 acid. Deprived of air it is not agreeable to 

 drink ; it is even known when long continued 

 to prove unwholesome. If the dissolved 

 gases are expelled by ebullition, river and 

 brook water usually contain one-thirtieth in 

 volume of air, and one-fiftieth carbonic acid. 

 In spring water the amount of the latter is some- 

 times far more considerable. The quantity 

 and nature of saline ingredients in drinkable 

 water vary much ; in an agricultural point of 

 view, the study of the contained salts would cer- 

 tainly be useful. The waters which serve as 

 drink to the cattle of a farm introduce to the 

 dung-heap all the matters which are dissolved 

 or held in suspension. It has been found 

 that on an ordinary-sized farm, more than 



2 cwt. of alkaline salts get into the dung- 

 heap in this way every year. You will thus 



perceive that irrigation by plain water must 

 be of enormous service, applied to the surface 

 of light and dry pastures. Salt you will find 

 an excellent and cheap addition to irrigated 

 fields. Salt is not a thing which shews itself 

 conspicuously in the production of great 

 luxuriance, but rather in giving strength to 

 the stem of the wheat, and I may say an 

 admirable condiment and healthful improver 

 of grass lands. This substance can be sown 

 broadcast in any weather ; about 4 cwt. is a 

 good dressing for an acre of grass land ; if 

 mixed with 2 cwt. of guano for grass or 

 wheat, so much the better, or mixed for a 

 time with the furrows taken out will be still 

 better, to which may be added, the cleansing 

 of the ditches. All this, I admit, involves 

 labour, and labour is now very dear, but 

 the result will shew it is worth all the 

 money, and something more. Those who have 

 made vegetable physiology their study know 

 that in agriculture and other forms of vege- 

 table propagation it is difficult to get too much 

 water upon pervious soils, and does not re- 

 main stagnant for a longer time than is re- 

 quired to separate most of its fertile proper- 

 ties. I may add that the manures deposited 

 upon the surface by cattle, sheep, and horses 

 during the heavj^ rains so constantly recur- 

 ring in this country, and carried into the 

 brooks; then to the rivers, and thence to the 

 sea, become altogether lost to the cultivator, 

 but, by proper adaptation and care, artificial 

 irrigation will secure to him his legitimate 

 share of that advantage which should exclu- 

 sively belong to his taking. In conclusion, 

 I may state that it is undoubtedly one of the 

 most important duties entrusted to man that 

 he should learn to control the elements, and 

 by bringing science and art to bear upon the 

 works of Nature to render them subservient 

 to his will in promoting the general welfare 

 of the human race, and to contribute to its 

 every day requirements. Thus we see that 

 destructive elements like fire are fairly brought 

 into subjection and forced to contribute to 

 our wants in a thousand different ways. The 

 earth yields its hidden treasures for a similar 

 purpose, and every description of soil which 

 covers the surface has its task to perform. 



