282 On Irrigation. 



certain mode of improving poor land, especially if it be of 

 a dry and gravelly nature. 2. Land, when once improved 

 by irrigation, is put in a state of perpetual fertility, without 

 any occasion for manure, or trouble of weeding ( 443 ), or any 

 other material expense. 3. It becomes so productive, as to 

 yield the largest bulk of hay, besides abundance of the very 

 best support for ewes and lambs in the spring, and for cows 

 and other cattle in the autumn of every year. 4. In favour- 

 able situations, it produces very early grass in the spring, 

 which is doubly valuable ; and, 5. Not only is the land 

 thus rendered fertile, without having any occasion for ma- 

 nure, but it produces food for animals, which is converted 

 into manure to be used on other lands, thus augmenting, in 

 a compound proportion, that great source of fertility ( 444 ). 



Were these advantages more generally known, or more 

 fully appreciated, a large proportion of the kingdom might 

 become like South Cerney, in Gloucestershire, where every 

 spring, or rivulet, however insignificant, is made subservient 

 to the purpose of irrigation, fertilizing, in proportion to its 

 size, either a small quantity, or a large tract of land ( 44S ). 



13. Improvements suggested in the Practice of Irrigation. 



In some recent publications on the subject of irrigation, 

 hints are suggested, for the farther extention and improve- 

 ment of that operation. 



The first is, that of watering land by machinery. If the 

 land be put in a proper form for irrigation, and supplied 

 with a good stream, at proper seasons, no difference can 

 result from the method of getting it on the surface ; and 

 if all other circumstances are equally favourable, the same 

 fertility may be expected from water thrown up by a drain 

 mill, as that which runs from a brook ( 446 ). A cheap and 

 effectual power for raising water in sufficient quantities, to 

 flow about ten acres at a time, would be an invaluable ac- 

 quisition ; for a productive water-meadow, is probably the 

 true mark of perfection, in the management of a farm ( 447 ). 



The other suggestion is, that of employing machinery to 

 raise not only fresh, but even sea-water, for irrigation ( 448 ). 

 It is well known, how much all kinds of stock are improved 

 by salt marshes, and how beneficial to them is a moderate 

 quantity of saline matter. There are many parts of the 

 kingdom, where, by the aid of machinery, these advantages 

 might be obtained at no great expense ( 449 ). 



