372 O F M E A D O W. Part III. 



watered, by diverting fuch river, or fome part thereof, out of its 

 natural current, over them. 3. Such as lie above the level of the 

 water, and are flowed by raifing the water by art. 



On the borders of our great rivers and currents, are the richeft 

 meadows, confifting generally of a very good fat foil, compofed, as 

 it were, of the fediment of the water overflowing them after great 

 and hafty rains. Thefe are capable of but little farther improve- 

 ment. But when their foil is naturally dry and hungry, and they 

 are not frequently overflowed by land-floods, artificial works may 

 be made ufe of to raife the water over them, to very confiderable 

 advantage. 



The art of diverting fmaller rivers and flreams, over the mea- 

 dows near them, is univerfally known and pradtifed, and to great 

 advantage. 



Where the water is fituated above the level of the ground in- 

 tended to be flowed, it may eafily be let in, at proper feafons, by- 

 drains, like thofe hereafter diredted for draining of land. Care 

 fliould be taken to have good fluices at the heads of the drains, 

 that the water may not come in, but when it is wanted ; for other- 

 wife the meadow, inftead of being improved, would be greatly da- 

 maged by it. 



Where the land lies above the level of any water near it, the over- 

 flowing of it will be more expenfive ; becaufe the water mull:, in 

 that cafe, be raifed by machines. The moll: common engine ufed 

 for this purpofe, is the Perfian wheel, of which Mr. Worlidge gives 

 the following defcription. 



" This wheel is made much after the manner of that of an under- 

 " {hot mill, viz. with a double ring, into which are let two pins, 

 " on which the floats are faftened. Thefe fl.oats are made hollow : 

 *' the half that is moll remote from the wheel, holds the water which 

 " is taken in at the open place, above the middle of the back of the 

 " float, and as the wheel goes round, and the float laden with water 

 *' rifes, fo the water, by degrees, tends towards that part of the float 

 ** which is next the wheel j and as the float furmounts the ciftern or 

 •• receiver, the water empties itfelf into it ; every float, fucceed^ng 

 ♦* th'one the other, emptying itfelf into the receiver : fo that if one 

 ** float contain a gallon of water, and there be 30 floats &n the 

 *^ wheel, at one motion round it delivers 30 gallons of water into 

 'fMhe ciftern. Such a wheel will be about 15 foot diameter, the 

 ♦* floats at i 8 inches diJlance, and will deliver the water at 1 1 or 



12 foot. 



