On Weeding Land. 271 



carefully attended to, he may rest assured of paying dearly 

 for his neglect. But the losses which he suffers, do not re- 

 medy the injury which the public sustains from his slovenly 

 conduct. The regulations, therefore, which have been sug- 

 gested, may be considered as both expedient and necessary ; 

 for were they adopted, it is evident, that many of the evils 

 alluded to would be removed, and the wealth and agricul- 

 tural resources of the nation materially augmented. 



SECT. VIII. On Irrigation. 



WATER is employed in various ways for the improvement 

 of land. 1. By the process of what is strictly called irriga- 

 tion, when water is made to trickle over the surface; 2. By 

 flooding, when it covers the soil completely for a period of 

 time ; and, 3. By warping, when the water acts merely as a 

 conductor of the warp or mud ; by which the improvement 

 is effected. We shall consider these several processes se- 

 parately, beginning with irrigation. 



This subject embraces the following particulars : The 

 objects to which irrigation is applied ; The methods of con- 

 ducting the process; The circumstances necessary to be 

 considered previous to the plan being undertaken ; The 

 waters best calculated for that purpose ; The proper soils 

 and subsoils for irrigated meadows; The effects of climate 

 on irrigation ; The expense ; The profit ; The grasses 

 best adapted for water-meadows ; The stock fed upon 

 them ; The making and preserving water-meadow hay ; 

 The objections which have been urged against irrigation ; 

 The advantages attending it ; And the improvements of 

 which it is susceptible. 



1. TJie Ofy'ects of Irrigation. 



It is generally supposed, that watering land is only calcu- 

 lated for the purpose of encouraging the production of grass ; 

 but irrigation is likewise applicable to the culture of grain, 

 and has even been made use of for promoting the growth of 

 timber. 



1. Grass. There are four modes by which water pro- 

 motes the melioration of grass lands. It preserves a favour- 

 able degree of temperature ; improves the crop, by the 

 nourishing substances it conveys; destroys heaths and other 



