On Irrigation. 279 



1. Interest, at 7^ per cent, on the original expense of making, ) . s. d. 



L. 10, on an average per Scotch acre, 15 O 



2. The old rent of the land 10 O 



3. The annual expense, , 080 



.1 15 



The annual value being raised to L.4 per acre, hence it 

 is calculated, that there is a clear annual profit of L. 2, 7s. 

 per acre( 431 ). 



A very distinct account of the expense and profit of a wa- 

 ter-meadow, is given in the Hampshire Report. The pro- 

 duce is stated at L.9 : 3 : 4 per annum, without including 

 the advantage of folding the sheep from the meadow, on til- 

 lage or other uplands, which is estimated to be worth 16s. 

 Sd. more, or in all L.10. The expenses, including the in- 

 terest of the money expended in forming the meadow, 

 amount to L.5 : 18 : 6; leaving a balance of L.4 : 1 : 6 in 

 favour of the meadow. 



It is, however, contended, that neither the grass, nor the 

 hay, produced by irrigation, contains those feeding or fat- 

 tening qualities which are found in upland herbage. The 

 stock will " hold their own," or keep to the state in which 

 they were, when put to such food ; they will increase in size, 

 but not in condition. Others will not admit to its full extent, 

 the truth of that doctrine ; and besides maintain, that the 

 benefits resulting from irrigation, are sufficiently ample, to 

 support the practice, even though its produce may not pos- 

 sess a feeding or grazing quality ( 43i ). Nor is the pecuni- 

 ary profit arising from irrigation, so material, as those indi- 

 rect or secondary advantages resulting from the system, 

 which shall afterwards be detailed. 



8. The Grasses best adapted for Water- Meadows. 



Where the catch-work system is adopted, the surface of 

 the meadow is rarely much broken ; the natural grasses in 

 the ground are trusted to, and it is seldom necessary to pro- 

 cure any seeds, except for bare or vacant spots. When 

 ridges, however, are formed by the spade or the plough, 

 they are generally destitute of grass when first laid down. 

 It is necessary, therefore, to sow the seeds of such plants 

 as are best calculated to produce valuable and abundant 

 crops. The most useful are, 1. Perennial red clover, cow, or 

 marl grass, (trifolium medium) ; 2. The rough-stalked mea- 

 dow-grass, (poa trivialis) ; and, 3. The crested dog's-tail, 



