^Cultivation of Graft Land,* Watered ] Mectdow$-~*Vfe of Spirit twclin. 4-33 



of being watered. And when neceflary, the level on the land upon the, other fide 

 of the ftream may be fet out in a iimilar manner. 



After this has been done, the land on the different fides of the dream, below the 

 lines fet out by the level, (hould be minutely examined and infpedled, as the whole 

 may be irrigated if the command of water be fufficient. The extent that can be 

 properly performed muft, however, \ depend much on the degree of fall or defcent 

 from the entrance of the water and its out-fall, as well as on the declination of the 

 more elevated parts of the ground. It, however, generally happens that a much 

 greater fpace of land can be covered with water than was at firft fuppofed. 



The next circumftance of importance is that of deciding where to commence the 

 bufinefs. This muft depend on various points, which can only be fettled by the 

 judgment of the operator. If there be a full fupply of water, the whole mould be 

 covered; butia thecontrary cafe, the expenfe of cutting the mains or carriers on 

 fuch levels in a fufficient manner fliould be confidercd ; and where one fide of the 

 ftream is better adapted to the purpofe than the other, that on fuch fide mould be 

 the firft executed. And if the land moft adapted to the purpofe of watering be at 

 much diftance from the place whence the water is firft taken, and there is not a 

 Aipply for the whole of the land below the line of level on one of the fides, the 

 expeafe of forming the carrier fliould be put in comparifon with the greater ad 

 vantage of irrigating the moft fuitable grounds, in preference to others that arc near 

 er, without pofTeffing equal advantages. It moftly happens that the beneficial con- 

 fequences of irrigating at command are fuch as to overbalance that of forming the 

 mains or carriers. Befides, though the fupply of water may be infufHcient in fuch 

 feafons as are very dry, as it may be abundant in the winter time, the limply cover-, 

 ing the land at that period may be more than adequate to the expenfe of the bufu 

 ncfs j which is a eircurnftance that may render it more beneficial to lengthen 

 the carriers, tlun- by having them fhorter to be confined to the watering of 

 fuch lands as are lefs proper for the purpofe. It is probable alfo, that in particular 

 cafes the winter irrigation may extend through the whole of the level that has been 

 fet out. 



Where it may happen that there area great variety of different forts of land be 

 low the line of level, fuch as low, flat, wet meadows, extended on Hie borders of 

 the river, having paftures with dry, gravelly, or fandy tillage lands higher up, and 

 moory or heathy grounds, fo that the operator has it in his power to perform the 

 bufinefs, at his option, on different forts of land, it is too frequently the cafe to be 

 gin with the tow grounds that admit of improvement iu other ways, as by drain* 

 VOL, ii. 3 K 



