A WATER MEADOW. 125 



as well as larger streams, viz., the use of a water-wheel. 

 Where the stream cannot be raised conveniently, an un- 

 dershot wheel may be set in motion by turning the cur- 

 rent into a wooden trough or shute, and impelling it 

 against the floats of the wheel. Where a dam can be 

 made, an overshot wheel may be used. Either of these 

 wheels may be made to operate a chain pump, and raise a 

 considerable amount of water. This pump is preferable 

 to any other, as there are no valves to be choked by small 

 floating substances, or to be worn by sand, which may be 

 brought down by the stream. Wooden pins may be in- 

 serted around the rim of the wheel, from which a wooden 

 pinion or gear may convey the motion by a short shaft to 

 the pump. 



The most economical form of meadow is the " water 

 meadow," which is one so arranged that it can be flooded 

 completely to a depth of several inches, and the water can 

 either be retained upon the surface when desired, or made 

 to pass over it with a slow, steady current. These are 

 the meadows which in parts of Europe are so productive of 

 grass, being protected during the winter from the slight 

 frosts or snow which would stop the growth of the herb- 

 age, by a covering of water. Where the land cannot thus 

 be completely covered, meadows cannot be irrigated in 

 the winter season, in climates subjected to frosts sufficient- 

 ly severe to freeze the ground an inch in depth. The too 

 well known destructive effects of a frost upon a sod 

 saturated with water, entirely forbid Winter irrigation 

 in the Northern States. But in the Southern States, 

 where frosts do not continue more than a few days at a 

 time, the " water meadow" may be made a valuable ad- 

 dition to the farm, and supply such an increased amount 

 of fodder for stock as may easily change the system of 

 farming to a very considerable extent. 



In forming water meadows no dams are used, nor is any 

 water raised above its level. The streams are embanked 



