664 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



is again collected by the small drains in the furrows, and returned lower down to 

 another feeder. The advantage of this method, Browne observes, " relates more 

 materially to the sides of hills, and to porous soils that are by some thought inca- 

 pable of being watered. The chief point is to get the water to the highest level 

 possible ; and in case the soil be porous, one main carrier only will require puddling, in 

 order to prevent the water from sinking away : when that is done, no difficulty what- 

 ever is found in taking it in small streams vertically, or directly down the slope 

 (c), and putting stops (d) to arrest its progress occasionally, which will throw it on 

 each side ; and when those stops are placed one above another, it will have the effect of 

 spreading the water on the land, somewhat similar to a fan when extended. The stops 

 need only be sods or turfs, one laid lengthways in the gutter, and one across it, which 

 may be raised or lowered according to the declivity : these sods or turfs will require 

 probably a small wooden peg to fasten them at first ; and by the time the land requires 

 a second watering, the roots of the grass will have sufficiently fastened them ; and they 

 need not be removed, unless occasionally for the purpose of watering any separate part 

 below, when the stream may be too small to water the whole piece at once ; and the 

 small cuts for conveying the water will be less expensive in cleaning, not being so liable 

 to choke up as those carried on what is termed horizontal or level gutters. 



4109. As an example of the benefit of flooding, we refer to Loch Ken, in Kircud- 

 brightshire, the most striking instance known in Great Britain of advantage being de- 

 rived from the inundations of a lake. At the head of that beautiful piece of water, 

 there is a flat of about 240 statute acres, which is rendered, by flooding, one of the richest 

 spots in Scotland. Many acres in it produce at the rate of three tons of hay each, and 

 some parts of it have been cropped with grain for twenty-five years in succession, with- 

 out any manure, except what it receives frpm the inundations it experiences. These, 

 however, leave behind them a variety of enriching substances. [Statistical Account of 

 Scotland, vol. iv. 260.) 



4110. Floating upwards. The ancient and now obsolete practice of flooding, or, as 

 it was termed, of floating upwards, was practised in various parts of the kingdom. For 

 that purpose, the water was penned, in times of floods, by means of a dam or floodgate 

 across the bottom of the meadow or flat to be watered. The waters were not suffered 

 to remain long upon the land, but were let off as soon as it was judged that they had 

 deposited their sediment. The benefit arising from this method of using floodwaters, it 

 is said, was considerable ; but when the improved mode of irrigation, by floating ridges 

 was introduced, and found more advantageous, the other was discontinued. {^MarshaVs 

 Midland Counties, Minute 27. j 



4111. Watering land by machinery. If the land be put in a proper form for irrigation, 

 and supplied with a good stream at proper seasons, there can be no difference from the 

 method of getting it on the surface ; and if all other circumstances are equally favor- 

 able, the same fertility may be expected from water thrown up by a drain-mill, as 

 that which runs from a brook. (Smith's Observations on Water Meadows, &c. p. 93.) 

 A cheap and effectual power for raising water in sufficient quantities to flow about ten 

 acres at a time, would be an invaluable acquisition ; for a productive water meadow is 

 probably the true mark of perfection, in the management of a farm. (Middlesex Report, 

 p. 322.) 



4112. Sea water. Smith suggests the idea of employing machinery, to raise not only 

 fresh, but even sea water, for irrigation. (^Observations, p. 87.) It is well known, how 

 much all kinds of stock are improved by salt marshes, and how beneficial to them, is a 

 moderate quantity of saline matter. There are many parts of the kingdom where, by 

 the aid of machinery, these advantages might be obtained at a moderate expense. 

 (Code.) 



4113. The exjyense of irrigation varies according to the nature of the work. Where 

 the catch-work system is practicable, in favorable situations, the forming may be done 

 as low as ten shillings per acre. This fact is, in many cases, decisively in favor of this 

 natural and simple mode, which requires also much less water, and often answers fully 

 as well as flat flooding. (General Report, vol. ii. p. 598.) The expense of bed -work, 

 as it is called, is, however, considerable. If the ground to be flooded, be smooth on its 

 surface, or in regular ridges, and if the water can easily be brought to the meadow, with 

 a temporary wear, supposing the extent to be almost twenty acres, it may be done at from 

 51. to 101. per acre ; but if the land be of large extent, with an irregular surface ; if 

 a, large conductor, and a proper wear shall be required, with hatches both in it, and also 

 in the feeders ; and if the aid of a professional person, to lay out and oversee the work, 

 be necessary, (which is generally the case), the expense will vary from 10^. to 201. per 

 acre. (General Report, vol. ii. p. 598.) Nay, in Wiltshire, where they are anxious to have 

 their meadows formed in the most perfect manner, with that regularity which the nice 

 adjustment of water demands, the expense per acre has amounted to 40/. (Smith's 

 Observatioris on Irrigation, p* 56.) 



