270 On the importance of Irrigation. 



dows, and 1 am inclined to think there is truth in the opi- 

 nion, for I remember well when the disease was unknown 

 in the neighbourhood where I was brought up, viz. a few 

 miles this side of Downingstown : hay was then seldom 

 made from any other, than ground occasionally overflowed 

 with water. 



It is an erroneous opinion, that spreading water over 

 land renders it unlit for the plough, or growth of grain. 

 It is in n>iany situations the cheapest method of enriching 

 and restoring worn out lands than can be resorted to, and 

 upon a dairy farm its advantages must be incalculable. 



In the climate of our country, experience shews, that we 

 may regularly look for a period of great drought between 

 the months of June and October ; the present season is 

 another proof, that however abundant and seasonable the 

 rain may be in the fore part of summer, and however 

 cheap, and plentiful, butter, vegetables, and other thmgs 

 may be in the early part of the season, yet a few weeks 

 of dry weather will have the effect to double the price 

 upon the consumer, while the articles are of inferior qua- 

 lity, and scarcely to be had in the market. 



There is no way of counteracting the effects of drought 

 so effectually, as by spreading water over the lands. 

 Every kind of grass, grain, or vegetable may be improv- 

 ed or preserved by a skilful application of water ; even 

 fruit trees may be benefitted, and the fi'uit improved by 

 it. The quality of butter, as well as the quantity in dry 

 seasons, is greatly improved upon watered meadows : 

 and garlic, and many other weeds so injurious to the 

 dairy, are lessened or wholly destroyed by irrigation. The 

 practice which prevails in our country of draining the 

 lands, with a view to get rid of the water, as though it 

 were a nuisance, is attended with injurious consequences, 

 particularly in a dairy farm. Cattle and live stock of 

 most kinds requiring free access to water in dry warm 



