^04 AGRICULTURAL KSSA\S. 



Fi-OODI.\G Land. 



This may be done by -eovenng low lands with water, when 

 a rivulet passes through them, by .-naking a dam at the out- 

 let. Where there is a sufficiency of water, and a short dam 

 will answer, this is a piece of husbandry that ought not to be 

 neglected. Oftentimes it may be of great advantage. Some- 

 times it is done for the purpose of destroying the natural 

 growth of trees, bushes, &c. The water not only makes an 

 essential alteration in their food, but also excludes these from 

 the free air, which is essentially necessary to vegetation. It 

 is no wonder therefore, that it proves their destruction, 



The flowing of two summers, is found sufficient to kill eve- 

 ry plant of the woody kind, so that it will not sprout any more. 

 But some advige to draw off the water in August, that the 

 ground maybe for a few days heated by the sun. The plants 

 thus suddenly pass from one extreme to another, which will 

 doubtless tend to destroy them ^e sooper. But when the sea- 

 son is so dry that another pond of water cannot be immediate- 

 ly raised, the drawing off had better be omitted. Another 

 object of flooding is to enrich the soil. Some lay their low 

 grass lands under water during the whole of the winter. This 

 may be a good method for lands which are so low and wet> 

 that none of the best grasses can be made to grow on them. 

 The poor water grasses will grow the faster, and the crops of 

 such hay as jt is, will be the larger. 



But places where clover, or herds grass, or red top will 

 flourish, should not be flowed during the winter; because the 

 winter frosts are known to be necessary to the production of 

 those grasses. 



Flooded lands should always be laid bare early in the sipring). 

 that the growth of the grass be npt prevented ; or that the 



