THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



231 



When water is available for irrigation, the first point 

 for consideration is the suitability of the water for this 

 use. In some districts the supply may receive matter 

 from manufacturers' or other works, which will render it 

 injurious to the landj but these are very exceptional 

 cases, and preclude its being used upon the grass. The 

 indications are generally tolerably clear as to this pre- 

 judicial character in the water, and any one who care- 

 fully watches the sides of the stream will soon have 

 proof whether or not he must regard the liquid as uniit 

 for use. These instances are, as we have said, compa- 

 ratively rare, and bear only a very small proportion to 

 the water which is of a valuable character. 



One of the most generally accepted signs of quality 

 is tlie warmth of the water. As a rule, spring water 

 possesses this property ; and when the spring is deep 

 there is a considerable difference between the heat 

 of it and tiie atmosphere, which confers upon the 

 former an especial value. Some persons also depend 

 much upon the softness of the water ; but we are 

 not disposed to go to the extreme into which this often 

 leads them, because we know many instances in which 

 hard water has been most satisfactorily employed. We 

 are much more inclined to allow this point to be decided 

 by local experiment ; for it is by no means improbable 

 that the hardness may be found objectionable on some 

 soils, whilst other lands may correct this quality, and 

 make use of the valuable pi'operties without being pre- 

 judiced by its hardness. 



Some streams are much more valuable than others, 

 from the alkaline matters they contain; and where 

 these are present even in a very small proportion, they 

 give the water strong fertilizing properties. Their pre- 

 sence is, therefore, always looked upon as an indica- 

 tion of superior quality ; but even in their absence the 

 water is by no means to be considered only of small 

 value. It is believed that when it contains no 

 fertilizing matter (a circumstance of exceedingly 

 rare occurrence), that still there is no mode of apply- 

 ing manure so economically as by its addition to the 

 water which is going to be distributed over the 

 land. The great point here gained is the extremely 

 perfect apportioning of the manure ; for whatever 

 may be our individual opinions as to the value of 

 homoeopathic doses upon the animal system, it is un- 



doubtedly a system which is suitable for vegetable 

 nutrition ; and in no instance have we clearer evidence 

 upon this point than in the benefits arising from the 

 infinitesimal quantities of manure present in some of 

 our most valuable irrigating streams. We would 

 therefore say, let not the poorness of the water be ac- 

 cepted as an argument against the possibility of its 

 being applied usefully and economically. 



The quantity of the supply is another important con- 

 sideration; and this to a great extent controls the ex- 

 tent of land which can be watered. The plan on which 

 the gutters are made will be found to make even 

 greater difierence, for some methods require a far 

 larger supply of water than others. The most econo- 

 mical system for applying the water is that wliich has 

 been so fully described in our leading agricultural 

 journals as Bickfordizing. The benefits thus gained 

 are a more perfect distribution of the water, by wiiich a 

 small supply is carried over a large extent of ground, 

 and the more complete control of the water. These 

 are advantages which are of especial value in the intro- 

 duction of the system of watering land into those dis- 

 tricts in which it has not already been adopted ; and 

 the general system is worthy of consideration, as a de- 

 cided improvement upon the antiquated plans too often 

 followed out, especially as it combines greater econo- 

 my in the cost of formation, with superior results as 

 regards the herbage. 



It must, however, always be remembered that the 

 distribution of the water is only a part of the prepara- 

 tion necessary, for unless the land is properly drained 

 (either naturally or artificially), little benefit will be 

 realized. We have reason to believe from the experi- 

 ments of the late Mr. Pusey in Berkshire, and those 

 carried out by enterprising agriculturists in other coun- 

 ties, that the formation of water meadows can be suc- 

 cessfully carried out in many neighbourhoods in which 

 their benefits are not at present known. If due caution 

 is exercised great advantages will be gained, whilst the 

 expenses incurred will be small, and the additional 

 supply of food thus secured for stock will be an abund- 

 ant reward for that judgment and enterprise which is 

 at the present time so necessary for the promotion of 

 agricultural practice. 



ARTERIAL DRAINAGE, 



The subject of arterial drainage and outfall, which 

 was alluded to in our columns last week, and to which 

 we promised to return, is necessarily of very genei-al 

 interest to many, nay, we may say to most landowners. 

 Mr. Grantham commenced his paper by describing the 

 general state of many important districts in which pro- 

 perty to a large amount was rendered useless from the 

 want of a proper system of arterial drainage, and of the 

 improvement of the trunk lines or principal water- 

 courses. The legal difficulties in the way of carrying 

 out works of this character seem to call for some general 

 legislative measure — such as Earl Carlisle's Bill, pro- 

 posed in 1852, which in Mr. Grantham's opinion was 

 the best that had been suggested — before the great 

 object of improved arterial drainage and outfalls can 

 be attempted on a comprehensive scale, or be effectively 

 maintained in working order. 



The subject was treated under the following heads : 

 first, attention was called to some of the evils arising from 

 the want of a combined system of operation ; secondly, 

 an account was given of the impediments which exist to 

 prevent the adoption of arterial drainage j thirdly, the 



class of works necessary to be carried out was described ; 

 and, lastly, some of the leading principles in the con- 

 struction of drainage works, to accomplish the object in 

 view, were pointed out. 



There is, perhaps, scarcely a district in this country 

 where one of two conditions does not exist : either that 

 the lands cannot be drained at all, or that they are in- 

 juriously affected by the drainage of those above them. 

 The first of these cases is exemplified in those districts 

 lying between the sources of streams, and extending 

 for some distance towards the natural outfall, so that 

 the owner of an estate, for instance, situated between 

 those limits cannot legally straighten or deepen the 

 stream or river running through that estate, and 

 thereby drain his land, because he would, by so doing, 

 inundate his neighbour's land lower down the stream ; 

 and in many cases one single person, who is unwilling 

 to drain his property, may prevent any improvements 

 by adjoining owners desirous and willing to improve 

 theirs. 



The subterranean or pipe drainage has not only been 

 " ited as the first step in the improvement of land, 



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