On the importance of Irrigation, 273 



perly manager] ; but like ever}- other valuable article, it 

 requires great skill in using it to the best advantage. In 

 Europe, much ingenuity and talent have been employed 

 on the subject of irrigation ; the engines for raising water, 

 canals for conveying it, and the time and manner of 

 spreading it over the ground, have been studied with 

 great care and brought to great perfection. In this coun- 

 try we have much to learn ; facts might be collected in 

 abundance to prove, that much good has been effected 

 by it, and it would also be easy to show, that much evil 

 has arisen from its neglect. 



Whenever irrigation comes to be succesfullv used, it 

 must be first under the direction of men experienced in 

 the art ; water used at an improper time or in a slovenly 

 manner does more harm than good. I remember to have 

 seen a few acres of meadow, over which spring water 

 was judiciously spread, produce three crops of good hay 

 in one summer : the water was collected in a pond, and 

 passed rapidly over the ground at stated periods. The 

 best method of watering gardens and orchards, is un- 

 known in this country, although it has been partially and 

 successfully tried in some instances within my knowledge. 

 The nature of our climate, and the increasing demand 

 for fruits and vegetables of good quality in our market, 

 will compel our farmers to study and practice irrigation 

 from the same necessity, which forty years ago compelled 

 them to learn the best method of collecting and using 

 manures. 



In many parts of the country a strong prejudice exists 

 against irrigation, lest it should by increasing soakage 

 and evaporation injure and destroy the mills. This I think 

 is a mistake, for the absorption would go to replenish the 

 springs, and the evaporation would soon descend in show- 

 ers : nothing is lost; the greater the surface of water ex- 

 posed to evaporation in any country, the greater and more 



