446 Cultivation of Grafs Land. Watered Meadows EJftds of. 



month the grafs may be eaten clofc, but not later ; as continuing it even fora few 

 days in May would greatly injure the hay produce which is to be obtained both in 

 quantity and quality. In the month of May, after the grafs has been fed down, 

 the water mould be again turned over the lands for a few days,* by which the 

 Jand is fo moiftened as to produce a full crop of hay. It is probable that with Icfs 

 clofe feeding two crops of hay might frequently be taken with advantage. The firfl! 

 crop of hay from watered meadows, when cut fufficiently early, is equally good 

 with moft other forts, but when let ftand too long becomes coarfe and unfit for fod- 

 der.f 



It has been obferved on this fubject by a philofophical obferver, that where the* 

 flooding of lands is continued fome time, the water mould only be fuftered to trickle 

 or flow over it gently from the higher parts, and not ftagnate upon it ; as in the 

 latter cafe the grafs roots arefoon deft rayed in the fpring, and, that when fuch ma 

 terials begin to decay underneath the water, a white fcum arifes in confequence 

 of the air fet at liberty by the beginning putrefaction, which has been fufpected 

 as prejudicial to the grafs, but is rather the effect than the caufe of the mifchief, 

 and demonft rates that the water has remained too long in a ftagnant ftatc upon the 

 ground, and requires to be removed or to have a frefh fupply from the ftream ;. 

 but the former is probably the better.* The neceflity of continuing the watering 

 after it has been begun, in hot climates and feafons, has been already mentioned ; 

 and there may be injury done to the grafs plants by the fudden application of much 

 water under fuch circumftances of great heat.|| 



The beneficial effects of watering meadows is obvious in producing an early and 

 luxuriant vegetation, with proper foil and water, as appears by a comparifon made 

 by thofe who had an opportunity of feeing Mr. BakewelPs judicious application of 

 this means of improvement on a piece of ground fet apart for experiments in this 

 branch of hufbandry. If they had purfued their furvey a little further, they might 

 have difcovered, that while the Difhley fields were covered with an almoft perpe 

 tual verdure of the moft nourifhing grafles, thofe of the neighbouring farmer were 

 famous only for the nifties and other weeds which they produced. 



As the grafs of watered meadows is very forward in March and April, they are 

 generally paftured in the fpring with fhcep ; and to thofe farmers who keep them 

 for breeding or fattening, it becomes almoft invaluable from the fcarcity of green 



* Wright on Floating Meadows, t Ibid, t Darwin s Phytologia. || Ibid. 



