IRRIGATION. 145 



found desirable, it is obvious that it cannot be under the control 

 of the farmer, to any considerable extent, but at a very great 

 expense. We must take the land as we find it ; for few things 

 are more costly than attempts materially, or to any great extent, 

 to alter its shape. It would be prejudicial to undertake to irri 

 gate our lands without the means of getting rid of the water, 

 and without having a gradual, though not a rapid, transmission 

 of the water over the surface ; but in cases where the inclination 

 is too great, the supply must be more gradually rendered. 



The frequency with which water may be applied to meadows, 

 and the length of time which it may be suffered to remain on 

 them, are points to be considered. At Welbeck, at the Duke of 

 Portland s, after the prepared land was sown with grass seeds, 

 the water was brought upon them as soon as it was thought they 

 would bear it ; i. e., after they had become sufficiently rooted, and 

 the ground consolidated around them. This would vary, accord 

 ing to the season, from one month to six. The great danger to 

 be apprehended upon newly-sown lands is the washing away the 

 dirt from their roots. The duke himself remarks that, &quot; short 

 of that, they cannot be watered too soon, or too long at a time, 

 unless the land has very recently been drained, in which case it 

 would not be well to increase the natural strength of the springs 

 until the land had forgotten its wet propensities. On really dry 

 land there are only two limits to the length of irrigation, viz., 

 the want of water, and the want of consistency in the soil, so 

 that it shall not be washed away from the roots of the grass.&quot; 



After the grass had become sufficiently strong, the water was 

 kept going over it for about four days, and then taken off. The 

 grass was mown as soon as it was ready for the scythe, and 

 the water again turned over. The same course was pursued 

 upon the old grass land. About once a month, the water is 

 turned on for three or four days at a time, according to the sup 

 ply, and this throughout the year. When the water is abundant, 

 it is applied oftener than once a month ; but how long it should 

 be kept on, is somewhat matter of judgment in reference to the 

 weather and the state of the ground. The manager of the 

 works chooses to keep it on until he sees its effects upon 

 the grass. 



Lord Hatherton, on his meadows at Teddesley Park, informs 

 me, that they commence irrigation about the 1st of November, 



VOL. II. 13 



