706 
Statistics. with a hollow peri , Yaises a ion of the-water 
—v~" of this canal to the height of $0 feet; an aqueduct cons 
across the river, 
Sener te tonne Onna 
to water the higher grounds; while the canal below 
carries the larger part of the water to the lower fields. 
Meadows are watered in some parts of Gascony, and in 
the vicinity of Avignon;—an unusual thiing in the South 
of France. 
But the most instances of irrigation; 
are to be met with in the si desert of La Crau, 
already described, and in the Pyrenees, In advancing 
from Salon into the Crau, about four miles before it 
commences, the road crosses the canal of Borsgelin. 
« The old canal of Crappone, at the same place; is seen 
distributing water in various directions, for the amelio- 
ration of one of the most arid tracts that is to-be met- 
with in the world.. The canal of Crappone takes its 
waters from the Darance at La Roche, and carries it to 
the southern part of it at Istres.. This»canal is 40 miles 
long. | That of Bois Selin receives it from the same: ri- 
ver at Malavort, and ing the other; divides it into 
three branches: one of which leads to the lands in the 
neighbourhood of Istres ; the second to St Saumus and 
Magran, and this part of the Craw; the third is a small 
one that turns to the left towards Salon. In conse- 
quence of water being thus conducted:to a region where 
it is so much wanted, some very capital improvements 
have been wrought. Some large tracts of the Crau have 
been broken up, and planted with vines, olives, mul- 
berries, and ‘converted into corn and meadow.’ The 
corn has not succeeded ; but the meadows, according 
to Mr Young, are amongst the most extraordinary spec- 
tacles that the world can afford, in respect to the ama- 
zing contrast’ between the soil im its natural and in its 
watered state, covered richly and luxuriantly with clo- 
ver, chicory, ribgrass, and avena elatior. 
In describing the irrigation of the eastern Pyrenees, 
we shall use the words of Mr Birkbeck, who, in his 
tour France in 1814, observed every thing re- 
‘lative to its agriculture with the eye of a most shrewd 
-and intelligent observer, and who has recorded his 
observations in the most clear and impressive man- 
ner, 
“ The copious and pure streams issuing from the 
P. Tee digit lnosed $6 thnie-unbes with the 
Medlaresens, are most economically and’skilfully di- 
rected to the p of irrigation. On the mountain 
sides, the streamlets, as they trickle fromthe rocks, 
are collected) into channels, above every little portion 
of arable ground, which they render surprisingly fertile. 
These rills uniting, form larger streams ; and these, with 
great labour and ingenuity, are kept up by artificial 
channels, and only ‘to descend as they 
the office of irrigation. The'same attention is paid to 
the larger streams united, which become’a considera- 
ble river in the lower lands of Rousillon. | This is di- 
vided and subdivided, unites, and is again divided, so 
that every portion of the surface seems to enjoy its 
due share. The soil of Rousillon is sandy, and appa- 
rently not very rich ; but, by the joint influence of wa- 
ter and sun, vegetation is vigorous beyond any thing I 
had ever before witnessed: Where a mountain side, or 
a portion of the land, is so situated, as to be inaccessi- 
ble to the water, it is planted with vines, to which wa- 
tering is not applicable, as it injures the quality of the 
wine, without increasing the quantity sufficiently to 
compensate, On the contrary, to olives, irrigation’may 
be with prodigious advantage, an instance of 
which came under my observation. This crop had ge- 
FRANCE. 
nerally failed, owing to the inary coldness of Statistic 
the early’ part of the tamiaans and one of a la m4 =~ 
olive ground was, like the rest of the country, 
out fruit ; the other half, which had been watered seve« 
irrigation, systematically arranged! for 
on nee . the whole, is a be ag ah have not heard 
i master’s hand seems to have planned and 
pt a all, before the iation of the soil, others 
wise private interest have interfered and marred 
the desi However that may have been; every man 
now finds a ‘ canal d’arrosement’ passing above hi 
field, and a ‘ canal de dessechement, at the bottom, 
which latter is the ‘ canal d’arrosement,’ in its turn’ for 
ss ecealaesei 
manner of ing the water is’ex 
ple. yep estar he, oad bade auth, om Seen 
which the water flows gently into a w made by the 
pine? sede higher side of the field, and in a few 
ours soaks : the whole soil, until it reaches the 
lower side, which jetes the op re 
&: 
i 
aL 
if 
it 
ree 
Ll 
ik 
f 
aS 
LE 
a 
P 
u 
i 
ig 
iE 
eat 
es the clods 
ing the surface. is is equi to our S 
dis splstehiing is to our plougting. The weeds a 
stubble are but little affected by this process 
ing and ing. However, that matters 
water is now introduced ; the trefoil starts .as | 
instantaneously ; and in October or November 
deep, and fed off by the sheep. Water is applied 
time to time; and in Jan or February it i 
again ; and lastly, in May it is mown for ha: 
crop. Immediately as the hay is 
gro on, eolren terpenes 
goes on, the crop is reaped, and 
four’ hings, as a preparation for 
tl er amd) irre or November.” 
the history of one year, under familiar and | 
ractice.” , 
4 The richest arable land, when watered, sells for nearly 
double what land of as good quality not capable of being 
watered will bring. Besides the districts already men. 
tioned, where i ion i 
z 
: 
é 
zg 
7 7 
> 
z 
z 
E 
22d 
i 
% 
i 
HI 
t 
very productive. Irrigation is applied ‘to the culture 
of hemp in Auvergne. a iol 
Besides e reg ug the mountainous districts 
in the centre an 
materials for a low wall around the edge. The int 
val is afterwards filled with earth, and’the barren moun 
tain is crowned with luxuriant terraces, 17 
=——) © 
