104 IRRIGATION. 



served in other parts of England, Ireland, and in Conti- 

 nental Europe, where scarcely a possibility of utilizing a 

 stream in this manner has been neglected. 



What is there in our circumstances that prevents the 

 practice of so great an economy ? There is no reason why 

 our thousands of rivers might not each have its scores of 

 watered meadows, along its banks. The skill to execute 

 the necessary work is abundant. Hundreds of civil en- 

 gineers, relieved from duty upon the suspended or finish- 

 ed railroads, might profitably turn their attention to this 

 branch of their profession, if only farmers were alive to 

 the advantages of thus improving their farms. 



The system adopted in Europe may be applied here 

 with the greatest facility, but upon a much larger scale, 

 as our rivers are larger, and our river bottoms more ex- 

 tensive. The irregular and unrestricted, and therefore 

 sometimes destructive overflows would thus be controlled 

 and profitably utilized. The supply of grass, our most 

 valuable fodder, would be greatly increased, and a needed 

 improvement would be effected in our agriculture. 



In the Northern States and Canada, "Winter irrigation 

 is impracticable, and there Summer irrigation only would 

 be beneficial. As soon as the ground is free from frost, 

 the water of the streams, highly charged with sediment, 

 might begin to be utilized. Afterwards, when growth has 

 begun, no check would be permitted, but every night dur- 

 ing a dry season, the meadow might be flooded. Then, 

 when the crop, brought to an early maturity by the stimu- 

 lus of abundant moisture should be cut and removed, a 

 new growth would be forced, and under the influence of a 

 genial sun, would advance quickly. Two crops could be 

 made by August, and in many cases a third could be pro- 

 cured by October. The economy of the system is suffici- 

 ent to permit a considerable outlay in preparing the sur- 

 face, and in addition there might be estimated a vast 

 saving by the substitution of growing grass to be cut 



