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



railing fait water to overflow meadows lying near it ; but above the 

 level of high water. Thefe fait marfhes, as they are called, have 

 been found an excellent remedy for many difeafes of horfes and other 

 cattle. 



When the water is brought to the defired height, the main chan- 

 nel fliould be cut, giving it a convenient defcent fo as jufl to keep 

 the water in motion. The mouth of the channel {hould be of 

 breadth, rather than depth, fufficient to receive the wiiole flream ; 

 and as the water is carried off in leffer channels, the main channel 

 fliould be made narrower by degrees, fo that the water may prefs 

 into the leffer channels v/hich iffue all along from the main one. 

 The leffer channels fliould be as fliallow, and as many in number as 

 can be : for though cutting fo much turf may feem to wafte a great 

 deal of land, yet it proves not fo in the end ; for the quicker the 

 water runs over the grafs, the greater the improvement is. Care 

 fliould be taken to cut the drains in fuch a manner, that no water 

 may remain to fl:agnate upon the land. 



The farmer muff be cautious not to bring any water of mineral 

 fprings upon his pafl:ure j fuch being either deftrudtive of grafs, or 

 producing a very harfh coarfe kind of it. 



Cold, clayey, ftrong lands, which lie flat, are not improved by 

 watering ; for the water cannot penetrate fuch. Light, warm, dry, 

 fandy foils, are thofe which are mofl: benefited by watering. 



A very wrong cufl:om prevails amongft: our farmers in general, 

 with refpecfl to thefe low grounds ; which is, that of flowing them 

 all the winter, The roots of all the fweetefl: kinds of grafs are 

 thereby deftroyed, and only fuch left as are natives of marflies, 

 which are coarfe and four, and which no cattle will eat. 



The method which Mr. Miller propofes for the management of 

 thefe meadows, is, never to flow them till the middle or latter end 

 of March, excepting once or twice in winter,when there may happen 

 floods, which may bring down a great deal of foil from the upper 

 lands, at which time it will be of great fervice to let water upon the 

 meadows, that the foil may fettle there : but the fooner the wet is 

 drained off after this is lodged, the greater advantage the meadows 

 will receive by it. By letting on the water frequently, from the end 

 of March to the middle of May, the growth of the grafs will be 

 greatly affifted, and there will be no danger then of defl:roying its 

 roots. It will alfo be of great fervice to thefe meadows to flow them 

 again, if the feafon fliould prove dry, after the hay is carried off the 



ground : 



