280 On Irrigation. 



(cynosurus cristatus). Timothy, (phleum pratensej, is great- 

 ly preferred for water-meadows in America ; and, in boggy 

 lands, fiorin, (agrostis stoloniferaj, is found peculiarly pro- 

 ductive in that species of soil. Where the object is pasture, 

 rather than hay, white clover, rye-grass, and the meadow 

 foxtail ought not to be omitted. The soil of itself, when 

 watered, will produce grasses the most congenial to the state 

 of the land, and the degree of moisture applied to it; but a 

 little manure, at the commencement of irrigation, by beds, 

 (unless the turf has been pared, and preserved to be put 

 upon the surface), is thought by some advisable. In short, 

 the superior grasses in general will thrive under irrigation. 



9. The Stock to be fed on Water-Meadows. 



The advantage which a sheep farmer derives, when the 

 climate will admit of it, by feeding his ewes and lambs in 

 spring, ( 433 ), on a watered meadow, can hardly be sufficient- 

 ly estimated ( 434 ). At that pinching period of the year, food 

 is always scarce ; and lambs, once checked in their growth, 

 cannot afterwards be fattened. There is an interregnum, 

 (if the expression may be used), between the vegetation of 

 one year, and that of another, which is best supplied by an 

 early crop of grass. Where this expedient is not resorted 

 to, or where Swedish turnips, cole, or savoys, (kail), are not 

 extensively cultivated, the farmer may have no succulent 

 food to give his flocks, and will of course suffer severely. 

 During spring, Bakewell recommends, that no heavier stock 

 than sheep, or calves, should be admitted on the meadow. 

 Much, however, depends, upon the quality of the soil and 

 subsoil, for where either consists of gravel, a farmer can feed 

 his milch-cows during the spring, and after making a con- 

 siderable quantity of cheese, may obtain three tons of hay 

 per acre ( 435 ). In Wiltshire, after a crop of hay is taken, 

 it is not usual to attempt a second, unless hay is very scarce; 

 for the grass being of a soft nature, it takes so much time to 

 dry, that it can seldom be well made into hay : and it is of 

 much greater value when fed with dairy cows, which may 

 remain on the meadows, till the flooder begins to prepare 

 for the winter watering ( 43G ). In autumn, fatting beasts, and 

 even cart-horses, have been put on a water-meadow ( 437 ). 



10. On Water-Meadow Hay. 



As the grass of water-meadows is frequently large and 

 coarse in its nature, it is advisable to cut it young ; and 



