666 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III, 



The land to be warped must be banked round against the river. The banks are made of 

 the earth taken on the spot from the land : they must slope six feet; that is, three feet 

 on each side of the top or crown of the bank, for every foot perpendicular of rise : their 

 top or crown is broader or narrower, according to the impetuosity of the tide, and the 

 weight and quantity of water ; and it extends from two feet to twelve : their height is 

 regulated by the height to which the spring tides flow, so as to exclude or let them in at 

 pleasure. In these banks, there are more or fewer openings, according to the size of the 

 ground to be warped, and to the choice of the occupier ; but in general they have only 

 two sluices; one called the floodgate, to admit; the other called the clough, to let off 

 the water gently ; these are enough for ten or fifteen acres: when the spring tide begins 

 to ebb, the floodgate is opened to admit the tide, the clough having been previously 

 shut by the weight of the water brought up the river by the flow of the tide. As the 

 tide ebbs down the river, the weight or pressure of water being taken from the outside 

 of the clough next the river, the tide water that has been previously admitted by the flood- 

 gate opens the clough again, and discharges itself slowly but completely through it. 

 The doughs are walled on each side, and so constructed as to let the water run off, 

 between the ebb of the tide admitted, and the flow of the next ; and to this point par- 

 ticular attention is paid. The floodgates are placed so high as only to let in the spring 

 tides when opened. They are placed above the level of the common tides. Willows 

 are also occasionally planted on the front of the banks, to break the force of the tides, and 

 defend the banks by raising the front of them with warp thus collected and accumulated : 

 but these willows must never be planted on the banks, as they would destroy them by- 

 giving the winds power to shake them. 



^1121. The season for worjnng begins in the month of July, and proceeds during the 

 summer season, and as this sort of business can only be performed at that season, every 

 occasion of having it executed should be embraced, by having the work in perfect repair, 

 that every tide may be made to produce its full effect. With regard to the advantage 

 of doing this work in the summer months, it may be remarked that at these times the 

 lands not only become the soonest dry, a circumstance which must always fully take 

 place before the process of cultivation can be carried on, but the tides are less mixed 

 with fresh water, in which condition they are constantly found the most eflPectual. 



4122. In regard to the expense of this mode cf improving lands, it must differ much in 

 different cases, according as the circumstances of situation and distance vary ; but it 

 can seldom exceed 121. or 15/. the acre, according to Young, and in most instances 

 it must be greatly below such estimates. But it is remarked by Day, in The Agricultural 

 Survey of the same district, that no estimate can be made without viewing the 

 situation of the lands to be warped, and the course and distance it will be necessary to 

 carry the warp to such lands : 1st, The situation of the lands must be considered ; 2d, The 

 quantity of land the same drains and doughs will be sufKcient to warp ; Sd, The expense 

 of building the doughs, cutting the drains, embanking the lands, &;c. An estimate 

 of these expenses being made, then it will be necessary to know the number of acres 

 such doughs and drains will warp, before any estimate per acre can be made ; there- 

 fore it will be easy to conceive that the greater quantity of land the same doughs and 

 drains will warp, the easier the expense will be per acre. In Day's opinion, there are great 

 quantities of land in the country, which miglit be warped at so small an expense, as 

 from 4/, to 8/. per acre, which is nothing in comparison to the advantages which arise 

 from it. He has known land which has been raised in value by warping, from 51 to 

 upwards of 40/. and 50/. per acre ; therefore it is easy to conceive that the greatest ad- 

 vantages arise upon the worst land, and the more porous the soil the better, as the wet 

 filters through, and it sooner becomes fit for use. The advantages of warping are very 

 great ; as, after lands have been properly warped, they are so enriched thereby, that 

 they will bring very large crops for several years afterwards without any manure ; and 

 when it is necessary, the lands might be warped again by opening the old drains, which 

 would be done at a very trifling expense, and wouM bring crops in succession for many 

 years, with very little or no tillage at all, if the lands were kept free fron) quick grass, 

 and other weeds, which must be the case in all lands where they are properly managed ; 

 besides, the drains which are made for the purpose of warping are the best drains 

 that can be constructed for draining the lands at the time tliey are not used for warping, 

 which is another very great advantage in low lands. 



4123. T'he best mode of cultii)aling new-warped land must depend principally on the 

 nature of the warp and of the subsoil. In The Code of Agriculture it is recommended 

 to sow it with clover, and to Itet it lie under that crop for two years, in order that it 

 may be brought into a state fit for corn. It does not answer to sow land, immediately 

 after it is warped, with wheat, even though fallowed; but after white or red clover for 

 two years, a good croj) of wheat may generally be relied on. Nor is it proper, when 

 land is warped, to plant it with potatoes, or to sow it with flax, being at first of too cold 

 a nature ; though these crops may answer, if the land be not too strong for potatoes, 



