432 Cultivation of Grafs Land Watered Meadows Ufc of Spirit Level in. 



are fuch as He in low iituations, on the borders of ft reams or rivers^orin doping 

 directions on the fides of hills, to which water can be conducted in the manner 

 directed below. 



It is neceifary, before entering upon works of this kind, to confider, whe 

 ther the ft ream of water to be employed will admit of a temporary wear or 

 dam to be made ncrofs it, fo as to keep the water up to a proper level for co 

 vering the land without flooding or injuring other adjoining grounds; or if the 

 water be in its natural Mate fufficiently high without a wear or dam, or to be made 

 fo by taking it from the ft ream higher up more towards its fource, and by the 

 conductor keeping up nearly to its level till it comes upon the meadow or other 

 ground. Further, if the water can be drawn oiT the meadow or other ground 

 as rapidly as it is brought on.* Beiides thefe, having attended with care to all 

 fuch other difficulties and obftructions as may prefent themfelves, from the lands 

 being in Jeafe through which it maybe neceflary to cut or form the mains or 

 grand carriers^ from the .water being neceflary for turning mills, from the rivers 

 or brooks not being wholly at the command of the irrigator, and from fmall 

 necks of land intervening, fo as to prevent the work from being performed to the 

 greateft advantage, the operator may be in a fituation to commence the bufinefs. 

 of irrigation. 



This is to be done by the ufc of ijpirit level t beginning from the higheft part of 

 the land that the Itream can be commanded from, where the grounds on the dif 

 ferent fides are the property of the fame perfon, and wears or other works, as has 

 been juft obferved, can be carried acrofs the ftreams for the purpofe of forcing the 

 water, either wholly or in a partial manner, into a different courfe. After it has 

 been raifed as high as poffible in this way, the level is to be formed from the fur- 

 face of the water, carrying it on what is termed the dead level, and marking it 

 out, at certain diftances, by two rows of flicks or flakes well driven down, one on 

 the line of the dead level and the other oppofite to it, at fuch diftances below as may 

 be fufficient to allow for the proper flowing of the water: a few inches in the mile 

 \vill be fufficient to draw it, but from a foot to a foot and a half or two feet in that 

 length may be requifite to afford a proper fall ; and where interruptions prefent 

 themfclves from buildings or other caufes, a ftill greater fall will be neceflary, in or 

 der that the paffing of them may be provided for in a gradual, not a fudden, man 

 ner. Jt is proper to proceed in this way to the extent of the land that is capable 



* Wricht on Floating Lund. 



