78 WHAT I KNOW OF FARMING. 



it was well grassed in Spring, always gave out direct- 

 ly after the first dry, or hot week ; so that, when I 

 most needed feed, it afforded none ; its herbage being 

 parched up and dead, and thus remaining till refresh- 

 ed by generous rains. I judge, therefore, that my 

 irrigation has more than doubled the product of those 

 two acres, and that these are likely to lose nothing in 

 yield or value so long as that petty irrigating ditch 

 shall be maintained. 



I know this is small business. But suppose each 

 of the hundred thousand New-England farms, where- 

 of five to ten acres might be thus irrigated at a cost 

 not exceeding $100 per farm, had been similarly 

 prepared to flow those acres last Spring and early 

 Summer, with an average increase therefrom of 

 barely one tun of Hay (or its equivalent in pasturage) 

 per acre. The 500,000 tuns of Hay thus realized 

 would have saved 200,000 head of cattle from being 

 sent to the butcher while too thin for good beef, 

 while every one of them was required for further 

 use, and will have to be replaced at a heavy cost. 

 Shall not these things be considered ? Shall not all 

 who can do so at moderate cost resolve to test on 

 their own farms the advantages and benefits that 

 may be secured by Irrigation ? 



