f 144 ] 
explicability in the operations of nature, and a dif- 
covery of the reafon might perhaps lead, in fome 
meafure, to a difcovery of the caufes of the rot in 
fheep. But the circumftance itfelf is rather an ad- 
vantage, than a difadvantage, to this diftrict, as it 
obliges the farmers to keep a few dairy cows to feed 
the water meadows in autumn, and to provide ar- 
tificial graffes, or other green crops for their fheep, 
during that period. 
Proper foils for water meadows.—F rom what has 
been fo repeatedly urged, on the neceflity of making 
water meadows dry, as well as wet, every reader 
muft have inferred the advantage of having them, 
if poffible, on “ a warm abforbent bottom.’™ 
The bottom or fub-foil of a water mead, is of 
much more confequence than the quality or the 
depth of the top foil. 
Not but that land on peaty or clay bottoms may 
be confiderably improved by watering; and there 
are many good water meadows on fuch foils, but 
they are not fo defirable on account of the difficulty 
of draining the water out of them, and making 
them firm enough to bear treading. 
* There is a ftriking proof of the truth of this remark, in the 
water meadows near Hungerford, and particularly at Standen. Al- 
though they are laid out in no regular plan, and in many inftances 
there are no drains to empty the water carriages, yet the gravel bot- 
tom is fo very abforbent, that the water will foak out in a few hours, 
and the meadows be left as dry as if they were watered on the moft | 
fyftematic plan. And few meads in the county produce better crops — 
either of fpring feed or of hay. 
