it a 
[ wer 4 
this kind of management, has been computed, and 
with a tolerable degree of accuracy, to be between 
15 and 20,000 acres. 
Indeed, it has been found fo very beneficial, that 
very few fpots of land capable of being watered, 
remain otherwife, unlefs where fome water-null 
ftands in the way, or where fome perfon who has 
the command of the water adove, refufes to let it be 
taken out of its natural courfe to water the lands 
below. 
Some new meadows might be made, and very 
great and beneficial alterations made in the old 
ones, if fome plan could be adopted to get the com- 
mand of water where neceflary for this purpofe, 
and particularly in the cafe of water mills. A 
remedy for this will be afterwards propofed. 
Water meadows do not make a country unhealthy.— 
It has been alledged by thofe who know very little 
of water meadows, that they render the country un- 
wholefome by making the water ftagnant. Daily 
obfervation proves the fact to be otherwife in Wilt- 
fhire; and the reafon is obvious. It has been al- 
ready faid, that a water meadow is a “ hot-bed 
for grafs;” the action of the water on the land 
excites a fermentation; that fermentation would cer- 
tainly in time end in a putrefa&ion: but the mo- 
ment putrefaction begins, vegetation ends. Every 
farmer knows the commencement of this putre+ 
faction, by the fcum the water leaves on the land ; 
and 
