174 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



Mention is made of this having been successfully per- 

 formed, in Greatbritain, where the water was brought a 

 considerable distance ; and also of grounds of this descrip- 

 tion having been made fine meadowlands, by means of 

 the most approved method of irrigation practised in that 

 Country. 



See WATER. 



If such grounds cannot be improved in either of these 

 ways, they may be rendered tolerably good for grass, by 

 frequent ploughings, in order completely to rot the surface, 

 and manuring it plentifully with sand, or other suitable earth. 



Sometimes lands of very good soil are found too closely 

 underlaid with limestone, or other rock, to be sufficiently 

 retentive of moisture, In times of drought. Such may, 

 nevertheless, answer very well for orcharding, for the 

 smaller fruit-trees, or for pastures, by having considerable 

 growths of locust, at the same time, on the grounds, as 

 these will, in a great degree, prevent the effects of drought. 



Lands which are very rocky, or stoney, may still be very 

 valuable for fruit-trees, for pastures, &c. The clearing such 

 of these incumbrances is sometimes a matter of no small 

 difficulty ; and it is always advisable to calculate, whether 

 the additional value of the land, when cleared, will warrant 

 the expense, an additional inducement, however, for incuring 

 the expense, is, that these incumbrances are usually good 

 materials for making the most substantial kind of fence. 



The Southern Planter often finds himself in possession 

 of large tracts of lands, which have been exhausted by the 

 constant culture of tobacco, and Indian corn. These tracts 

 are frequently turned to commons, and are then called old' 

 field. In this exhausted state they, perhaps, do not yield 

 the Owner six cents an acre, by the year. How shall he 

 renovate these lands, and thus restore fertility and beauty to 

 some of the fairest portions of the earth, which have been 

 blasted and desolated by the hand of Man ? 



The Planter must change his mode of culture ; he must 

 pursue a system as good, as that which laid his lands waste 

 was bad. He must keep his lands well stocked with clover, 

 or other good grass, and keep as many cattle as he can 

 find means of supporting, in order to enable himself to 

 make as much manure as possible. He must feed his lands 

 with every kind of manure which is proper for them ; pur- 

 sue the soiling-culture, as far as that may be found suitable 

 for his grounds ; plough often, and well ; and he will soon 

 find that his now barren wastes will bloom with increasing 

 verdure. 



Those parts, however, which have been too deeply gulli- 

 ed by the rains, to be easily leveled again, should be plant- 

 ed with locust, or other valuable wood. 



