On the importance of Irrigation, 271 



weather, and the quantity drunk is much greater than 

 most people imajdjine ; for milk cows, it ought to be clean 

 and cool, if possible, during summer : very few dairy 

 farms in the neighbourhood of the city, are as well pro- 

 vided as they ought to be in this respect. 



Strangers, particularly those from France and Germany, 

 in passing through our part of the country, while they 

 see much to admire in the management of our farms, must 

 be struck with surprise at our neglect, I might say con- 

 tempt, of those beautiful streams of water with which al- 

 most every farm is supplied. In the rapid progress of 

 agricultural improvements, the uses to which they might 

 be applied, seem to have been overlooked : the time how- 

 ever is approaching, when they will be carefully improved, 

 and their skilful management rank among the chief cares 

 of the husbandman. 



Philadelphia must be the greatest manufacturing, and 

 consequently the most populous city in the United States: 

 it has increased to its present size by regular and steady 

 steps ; it will continue so to increase, until its inhabitants 

 shall be double, treble, or fourfold the present number. 

 It is surrounded by a fertile country capable of furnishing 

 within a reasonable distance, abundant supplies for a po- 

 pulation four times as great as it has at present, and this 

 at moderate prices, provided the means are used which a 

 bountiful Providence has furnished. To effect this, it is 

 true, great and important changes must take place in 

 respect to the gardens and dairies within the reach of its 

 market : at present, some of the most fertile spots in the 

 immediate neigh bo»irhood of the city, are so wretchedly 

 managed, that where the richest grasses, fruits and vege- 

 tables ought to grow, and where milk and butter, sweet 

 and of the finest flavour, ought to be produced, you will 

 see nothing but weeds, or at most a little meagre oats or 

 buckwheat, and for fruit, a few scattered half decayed 

 Ss 



