102 IRRIGATION. 



grass, the flow should be cut off. No injury will occur 

 to the grass in this case, hut if the water is still allowed 

 to flow, the ice will be increased in thickness, and a longer 

 time will be needed for it to thaw. If this imprisonment 

 is continued too long, vegetation may be injured, but a 

 week or two is insufficient to cause any injury. 



In the Spring, when the water has been withdrawn and 

 growth has commenced, there frequently occur cloudless 

 nights and low temperatures, when hoar frosts are pro- 

 duced. On such occasions it is common to spread the 

 water over the surface during the night, as a protection 

 from the frost. The benefit derived is sufficient to repay 

 the necessary care and labor during the months when 

 these sudden changes are to be expected. There are 

 many localities in the Middle and Southern States where 

 this sort of irrigation might be practiced with very great 

 profit. It is extensively practiced in Lombardy, where 

 these " Winter meadows" are known as mar cite, (marcita 

 in the singular), and where they have long been known 

 as the most productive of any meadows. As early as 

 February, when the surrounding country may be yet 

 covered with snow, these meadows, protected during the 

 "Winter by a covering of flowing water, begin to furnish 

 their first cutting of grass. Five other cuttings follow, 

 before the season closes, so that the cattle receive fresh 

 grass during 11 months of the year. Twenty-eight tons 

 of grass, or seven tons of hay, per acre, is the usual yield 

 of these meadows. The valleys of several of the French, 

 English, and Irish rivers, although subjected to a less 

 genial climate than that of Italy, furnish many examples 

 of successful "Winter irrigations. Certainly a vast extent 

 of the United States, where grass is a scarce product, 

 might be made amenable to this profitable treatment. 



At this point a typical case might be cited. When 

 visiting England some years ago, the author's attention 

 was attracted to some extensive water meadows upon the 



