On the importance of Irrigation, 269 



manded at pleasure, if the farmers would unite in an ar- 

 rangement to convey it from one farm to another, furnish- 

 ing each by turns with a copious supply two or three times 

 a week. 



I had an opportunity of seeing the good effects of an 

 arrangement of this kind in the Island of Madeira, where, 

 although no rain falls from the month of May to October, 

 the finest vegetables of all kinds are produced in abun- 

 dance by means of irrigation. Channels for conducting 

 the water are made at great expense, and carried over the 

 roughest grounds for miles together : the distribution of 

 the water (I was informed) was fixed and regulated by 

 the laws of the Island ; similar regulations connected 

 with irrigation exist in different parts of Europe. 



Irrigation is one of the most ancient practices connect- 

 ed with agriculture ; and in some countries even at this 

 day, is deemed of the first importance, and without which 

 their population could not be supported. 



In the early settlement of this country, and for nearly a 

 century afterwards, farms were valued in proportion to 

 the quantity of land capable of irrigation. In offering 

 a farm for sale or rent, during that period, no man ever 

 forgot to mention, that it " contained so many acres of 

 watered meadows,'' and that "m.ore might be made :'^ 

 but since the introduction of plaster, and red clover, wa- 

 tered meadows are almost wholly neglected, particularly 

 in the farming districts nearest the city, where, above all 

 others, the practice ought to be continued, and if pro- 

 perly managed, would be immensely profitable. 



It is worthy of remark, that in many remote parts of 

 this state, particularly those settled by Germans, and their 

 descendants, watered meadows are highly valued. I am 

 informed, it is a prevailing opinion among them, that the 

 disease called shivering in horses and cattle, does not oc* 

 cur in those fed on the hay or grass from watered mea- 



