Notices for a Young farmer* xxxv 



to the ravages of floods ; and may be straight, without being 

 exposed to the dangers to which open ditches are subject. 

 Our rich alluvial tide-water meadows, are not included in 

 these remarks ; the drains and ditches of these, for the most 

 part, must necessarily be wide and open. Modes of surface 

 draining, and instruments for the purpose, are pointed out 

 and described in European books ; and are well worthy our 

 attention. 



The fertile bottoms on rivers and less streams, frequently 

 prove the fecundating effects of overflows occurring from 

 floods; which leave their rich deposits on the recession of 

 the waters. In Europe, they practise what is there called 

 warping ; to produce, artificially, the like result. By means 

 of banks, dams, and flood-gates, where there is fall enough 

 to drain off the tides admitted, they introduce the water of a 

 river, (and the more turbid the better,) and suffer it to remain 

 stagnant until it has not only destroyed worthless vegeta- 

 tion, but by the settling of the rich mould Which has been 

 held in solution, a great store of manure is deposited, for pro- 

 fitable culture and renovating the fertility of the soil. After 

 their first operations are completed, they suffer the banks, 

 sluices, and flood-gates to remain ; and admit the water, oc- 

 casionally, as it may be necessary for either irrigation or 

 manure. In our embanked meadows, something of the kind 

 is accidentally or purposely done. But it would be well,, 

 where it is practicable, to introduce this improvement among 

 us. Many modes of irrigation are practised in other quar- 

 ters of our globe ; but here water is not applied to agricultu- 

 ral purposes, in any degree equal to the uses whereof it is 

 capable. In our southern countries, it is only applied to par- 

 ticular crops. Birkbeck's account of irrigation, in tine south of 

 France, is well worthy of attention. It will be seen, that it* 

 uses are not confined to grass ; but are extended to ever} 

 species of crop, and so had been, there, through ages : Chan- 

 nels for the conveyance, distribution, and delivery of water 

 from one farm to another, have remained for a time beyond 

 the memory of man ; and are held as inviolable as the boun- 

 daries of property. But the use of water should be carefully 



