A VALLEY MEADOW. 



123 



stead of building a dam across it and forming a pond. 

 But the value of a pond upon a farm, if for no other 

 purpose than procuring a supply of ice, would amply 

 repay the value of the land and labor in one year. The 



Fig. 55. IRRIGATION OP A VALLEY. 



arrangement of canals here described is a typical one for 

 this kind of meadows ; it is capable, however, of abund 

 ant modifications, to suit varying circumstances. It is 

 given to illustrate the principle upon which these meadows 

 may be formed. 



There are various other methods of raising the water 

 than this which has been described, some of which may 

 be mentioned as being applicable to various circumstances. 

 The old-fashioned noria, which has been in use in South 

 ern and Central Europe since the eleventh century, is not 

 yet out of date. It is still used in Savoy, Lombardy, 

 Spain, and parts of France, and being easily constructed, 

 and cheaply effective, where the supply of water is suffi 

 cient, might be used in some cases here. A wheel, having 

 broad floats, is hung upon an axle, so that the lower floats 



