Command of Water. 1 4 1 



a-day to an adjoining stream or pond. It is therefore ad- 

 visable, where it can be done, to bring water into a cistern 

 in the fold-yard, to which the cattle may go whenever they 

 are in want of it. The cistern may be made of rough ma- 

 sonry, and consequently would not be expensive. There 

 can be no doubt, that cattle will improve much more rapidly* 

 more especially on coarse fare, when thus supplied with wa- 

 ter, than if they were only occasionally driven to it ( 263 ). 



In Derbyshire, cisterns hewn out of large blocks, are not 

 only placed in most cattle yards, but also in the fields where 

 the springs on the sides of the hills admit of supplying them. 

 Many of them are so placed, that cattle can approach them 

 on either side, and can avoid being injured by a master beast 

 attacking the others when drinking. For conveying the wa- 

 ter to the cisterns, thin zinc pipes are sometimes used, as be- 

 ing cheaper. When the water enters at one end of the cistern 

 level with the surface, and passes off at the other, from the 

 constant change and agitation of the surface of the water, by 

 this stream across it, the cistern is not so apt to be frozen, 

 even in the severest weather, which is an object of much im- 

 portance to the health of the cattle ( 264 ). 



Fields. A supply of water is also an object of great im- 

 portance, in every field where pasturage is intended. With 

 that view, if there happens to be a small rivulet in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the lands, it may often be distributed in branches, 

 so as to water many fields. Springs, or the collected dis- 

 charges from drains, may also be applied to the same pur- 

 pose. All land used for grazing requires to be constantly 

 well supplied with water. 



In conducting water through fields, it is of material im- 

 portance to take care, that the slopes be gentle, and not more 

 than sufficient for easy transmission ; as, when water is con- 

 veyed down fence ditches, or open conduits of considerable 

 declivity, it is too apt to do injury in its progress, by wash- 

 ing away the sides of its channels. Sometimes water is col- 

 lected in a field, not only for the use of the animals pastured 

 there, but also to be afterwards diverted for various uses, as 

 for thrashing and other mills, irrigation, and ponds for 

 bleaching and similar purposes. To accomplish these ob- 

 jects, and at the same time to prevent injury from this ele- 

 ment, the drains, conduits, sluices, bridges, gates, and fence 

 ditches, require to be designed with skill, and constructed 

 with scientific attention. 



