284 



EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION. 



enormous crops. Such land is seldom used for pasture, as it 

 becomes too soft and is more profitable for mowing. 



We will next read what Prof. J. Buckman says in Jour. Eoy. 

 Ag. Soc, p. 467, 1854: "■ By irrigation the list of grasses change ; 

 bad grasses will nearly all die out, or greatly improve in quality, 

 whilst many good ones, few in number before, rapidly increase. 

 Again, such weeds as Plantago major. Ranunculus hulbosus, Pan- 

 icum sanguinale, and many others give place to a growth of 

 grasses. 



" Take the following on the observations of a meadow which 

 was irrigated in an inferior manner. It had a subsoil of oolitic 

 gravel, and its product was that of a thin upland pasture. How 

 much it has changed will be seen from the annexed table, which 

 is designed to supply information on the following points : — 



1. The names of the grasses observed. 



2. The proportions of those observed in the meadow before ir- 

 rigation. 



3. The changes effected in two years. 



4. Those affected on the fourth year. 



