172 WORCESTER SOCIETY. 



rich, moist soil, from which the stones, with which it had 

 abounded, had been extracted and used, a part in underdrain- 

 ing, and the remainder in fencing it with a heavy stone wall ; 

 the land had been cultivated, and was then bearing a great 

 burden of excellent grass. This is the same land, described 

 by Mr. Howe, as having been much improved in the manner 

 stated by him. Of this, the committee could entertain no 

 doubt, as on two sides of it, was more of the same sort left in 

 an unimproved condition, and between the lots, the contrast ' 

 was very striking. As Mr. Howe has been so richly compen- 

 sated for the attention bestowed on this land, it is hoped that he 

 will consult his own interest, so far as to treat the remainder in 

 like manner. 



Late in October, the Chairman again visited this farm ; the 

 crops were then all gathered ; his principal object was to see 

 the interval, when he could view the whole system of irriga- 

 tion practised upon it. Having been for thirty years engaged 

 in that mode of improvement of mowing lands, this part of the 

 farm had excited a greater interest with him than with his as- 

 sociates, and he was desirous of seeing that, which on his for- 

 mer visit, by the great growth of grass, had been hidden from 

 his view. He found, in passing over the interval, unmistakable 

 evidence that a large crop of hay had been taken from the land, 

 but he also found, as he had expected, from the little he could 

 before discover, that the ditches had not been laid out with so 

 much judgment as they might have been. Although the use 

 of the water had produced very beneficial results, it liad not 

 done all the good of which it was capable. It might, to great 

 advantage, have been conveyed over more land, without injury 

 to any part. To some extent, the crop had been injured by the 

 too constant use of the water, by the production of water 

 grasses. One obvious defect he noticed ; there were no trench 

 drains to take off the water and allow the land to become dry, 

 and at the time of this visit, the interval being wet for the 

 want of such drains, was receiving much injury from the hoofs 

 q[ the cattle feeding on it. 



He would recommend to Mr. Howe to travel down the val- 



