Cultivation of Graft Lwd.-~jyatered Meadows--Ridge Drain* forming of. 437 



3, 4, and 5. If the ftop 33 be drawn up, and the flop 37 let down, the panes 6, 

 7, 8 and 9 are watered in the fame way ; and fo on by the (tops 38 and 39, which 

 will water the panes 10, n, and 12 ; alfo 13 and 14: and the ftop 40 being let 

 down, and 41 drawn up, the pane 30 will be watered. Then returning to the ditch 

 at the other end of the field, and letting down the ftops 42 and 43, the water will 

 flow into the trench 34, and the ftop 44 being down, the panei 5 is watered, and the 

 trench 45 becomes a drain, which, fucceflively, conducts the water, as above ex 

 plained, over the panes 16, 17, 1 8, and 19. And when the trench 46 becomes 

 fupplied with water, and the trenches 34 and 45 are empty, the panes i and 15 are 

 in a perfect ftate of drainage; which fufficiently explains the fyftem, and mows 

 how every trench operates, either for delivering or draining off the water, at the 

 pleafure of the irrigator.&quot; 



Some advife, that when the lands are quite level, or nearly fo, ridges of abou 1 * 

 eleven yards wide mould be formed by the plough, and raifed about three feet on the 

 crowns; it will be ofcourfe necefTary to ufe thefpirit level in their formation s well 

 as in that of the top trenches for receiving the water from the main carriers-, and that 

 the drains on the fides may be properly conftructed to convey it to the ditches. 

 The trenches mould be cut in a direction verging nearly to a point, in order to 

 give an equal overflow of water the whole length : but where the land is Hoping, 

 trenches alone will be fufficient, caufing an overflow in each direction. 



It is further neceffary, in attempting to improve meadows or other lands by the 

 application of water, to afcertain that both the foil and fubfoil are naturally dry, 

 or have been made fo by open or under drains, otherwife they cannot be benefited 

 by watering, as has been found from much experience. Ofcourfe the previous 

 operation of draining is indifpenfably necefTary, before lands in which there is 

 much moifture can be flooded with any probability of fuccefs. The perfection 

 of watered meadows confifting in the operator s having it in his power to let on or 

 take off the water at pkafure, it follows, of courfe, that a complete power of drain 

 age is as requifite as the command of water. 



The length of time which meadows mould remain floated, and the neceflary re 

 petitions of the floating, muft obvioufly depend on various circumfhnces ; but 

 as after every watering the floater (hould be extremely careful to drain off the wa 

 ter from every part of the land, and as the moft prejudicial confequences are known) 

 to rcfult from any degree of neglect of this kind, it would be an ufelefs expenfc to 

 prepare a field for being floated, unlefs previously afcertained that ic poiiefTes A* 



