IRRIGATION. 151 



what an immense amount of labor expended. It was riot merely 

 that these grounds were to have their faces washed and their 

 hair combed, but the levelling of these various inequalities 

 required an extraordinary skill and an indefatigable and heroic 

 perseverance. But the beauty of the whole work, as it presented 

 itself to the eye, so nicely formed, and so bright and rich in its 

 verdure and productiveness, was delightful ; and this perfect and 

 magnificent triumph of art and industry over adverse circum 

 stances, most strikingly exemplified by a comparison with the 

 adjoining land, which remained in its original inferior state, and 

 had not been brought under the resuscitating and beautifying 

 hand of improvement, compelled the highest admiration. 



But the work which appeared was by no means the whole 

 that had been done. The land had been all thoroughly drained, 

 and, in some cases, to the depth of five feet. In some cases, the 

 work had required to be twice done, because, when the land 

 became saturated with the water of irrigation, new force was 

 given to the natural springs, which then were rendered too 

 strong for the outlets provided. The duke was kind enough to 

 point out to me how indispensable it was to get rid of the bot 

 tom water in order to bring the lands into a sound state ; and in 

 one case, where the ground had been drained at the depth of five 

 feet with tile-drains, the ground could not be laid dry until a 

 spring at the side of the land was completely cut off, and a 

 channel formed, so that the water might be conveyed quickly 

 away. In one case, it was found necessary to sink a drain to 

 the depth of twelve feet, in order to cut off a copious spring; 

 which pressed upon the land. The system of thorough-drain 

 ing, which I have already very fully discussed, may be sufficient 

 to convey away all the rain water which follows, but not the 

 water flowing from powerful springs in side hills, whose waters 

 often press upon lower grounds in the neighborhood, and com 

 pletely saturate them. 



New evidence was given, in the progress of the work, that 

 lands subjected to the process of irrigation, always suffer if there 

 is too great flatness, and that it is of the highest importance to 

 the full benefit of the operation, that, although a too rapid trans 

 mission of the water of irrigation is to be avoided, yet its progress 

 should not be interrupted or delayed. 



Besides the amount of labor expended in draining the lands. 



