HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 379 



It flowers about the third and fourth weeks of July, and the 

 seed is ripe in the middle and towards the latter end of August, 

 according as the soil and season are favourable to its growth. 



From the above details it is evident, that if we except one, or at 

 most two species of grass, the whole natural produce of bogs and 

 low-lying stagnant meadows is of little or no value to the possessors. 

 Such lands, however, by the simple process of forming them into 

 water-meadows, have had their original value, which is, generally, 

 from one to five shillings, increased to forty, and frequently to 

 sixty shillings, per acre. From the magnitude, and the short 

 space of time in which the rise in the value of land is thus perma- 

 nently effected, the conversion of waste bogs to irrigated meadows 

 may justly be ranked with the very first improvements in this 

 branch of practical agriculture ; and were it not from the local 

 nature of the lands in question, when it is considered that in 

 numerous instances, with a spade only, the process may be begun 

 and finished, it may justly perhaps maintain a claim for the first 

 place in improvements of modern agriculture in any branch what- 

 ever. At least it appears difficult to find any other improvement 

 in this art that so speedily, permanently, and at so moderate an 

 expense, raises the value of land to the degree now mentioned. 

 It is hardly possible, I should conceive, to witness one of these 

 wastes converted into a rich fertile meadow in the short compass 

 of two seasons, without feeling a conviction something like this. 



In forming a water-meadow, the chief point to be obtained is a 

 perfect command of the water, that it may be admitted on the 

 land, and completely carried off at pleasure ; for without this it 

 will be found a vain and useless labour, as none of the valuable 

 species of grass will thrive or even exist in this kind of soil under 

 any other condition. 



Lands lying on declivities are seldom converted into water- 

 meadows, from the want of a regular and sufficient supply of 

 water in such situations. Bogs and low marshy grounds are 

 generally, in their natural state, the least profitable of soils, but 

 are capable, by means of irrigation, of having their value increased 

 to a higher degree than any other waste lands. 



Water-meadows situated on declivities are termed catch-work 

 meadows ; and those formed out of bogs and low level land, are 



