442 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Watered Meadows E.vpences of forming of. 



regulate the quantity of water necefiary to water the panes from L to C C ; and 

 it is on the account of thofe trenches 5, 6, that afluice is built. The water which 

 runs out of this; meadow at C C is, if the defcent is quick, immediately made ufe 

 of to water the next meadow below, or if there mould be but little defccnt, it is 

 oftentimes confidered as a head main ; and wherever below it will rife over the 

 land, it is again made ufe of, in the &quot;fame manner as it was at fir ft in this plan of 

 watering. 



In all cafes where the watering fyftem is undertaken, except in the time of 

 floods, it may be highly ufeful to difiurb the mud and dirt in the bottom of the 

 main carriers or drains before watering, a practice frequently adopted on the con 

 tinent. Lime has alfo been thrown into thefe cuts by fome irrigating farmers, and 

 raked with a heavy harrow or other implement at the bottom, which is a procefs 

 that will be found to add confiderably to the manuring quality of the water. Itis 

 probable that many other fubftances might be employed in the fame way, and be 

 thus fpread over the furface of grafs lands in a minute ftate of divifion, with vaft 

 advantage in promoting vegetation. 



There is another method which feems capable of affording advantage in this 

 bufmefs, efpecially when the lands are not well fet with grafs plants, which is that 

 of fowing them with fuitable grafs feeds before the procefs of watering is com- 

 .menced ; but in thefe cafes the water mould not be continued flowing too long at 

 a time, as by that means the vegetative power of the feeds might be deftroyed. A 

 good fward might probably foon be formed in this way. 



To form meadows in a proper manner for watering is attended in many cafes 

 \\-ithconfiderableexpenfe, but varies, according to circumftances and the nature 

 of the irrigation, from fix to twenty pounds the acre. Catch-work meadows from 

 three to feven, befides the annual expenfe of implements and labour. In order to 

 overbalance fo great an expenditure, great and permanent advantages mould be the 

 confequence. However, in fome inltances this does not prove to be the cafe, cf- 

 pccially when the foil and the water are not both well adapted to the purpofe. 

 But, as fuch cafes feldom occur, it may be generally faid, that it is an important 

 means of improvement, whether the object be hay or pztfturage. 



The great degree of verdure and luxuriance which almoft immediately fucceeds 

 the occafional covering of grafs lands with water, fufficiently demonftrates the 

 power which it poffelfes in promoting vegetation. It is a means of fertility that 

 has been employed for ages in more warm climates, with the mod beneficial con- 

 fequences in increafing the quantity pf vegetable produce. But though it has been 



