284- On Flooding I^and. 



purpose, the water was penned, in times of floods, by means 

 of a dam or flood-gate across the bottom of the meadow, or 

 flat to be watered. The waters were not suffered to remain 

 long upon the land, but were let off as soon as it was judged 

 that they had deposited their sediment ( 4Sl ). The benefit 

 arising from this method of using flood waters, it is said, 

 was considerable ; but when the improved mode of irriga- 

 tion, by floating ridges, was introduced, and found more ad- 

 vantageous, the other was discontinued ( 45a ). 



Besides these meadows, mill-ponds thus fertilized, were 

 rendered dry, and cropped with oats ; artificial pieces of 

 water were likewise filled up, and became productive ; and 

 by means of sluices, and other contrivances, low grounds 

 and bogs were laid under water during the winter months, 

 and greatly enriched with productive vegetable earth, from 

 the surface of the higher parts. The waters were let off in 

 spring, and the ground was then ploughed and sown ( 453 ). 

 But in consequence of the great humidity of the soil, the 

 crops were very late, and in a wet summer, they were lodg- 

 ed and spoiled. In dry seasons, however, and where pro- 

 per attention was paid to the draining and ridging of the 

 soil, the returns were considerable, and the land was enabled, 

 without manure, to raise good crops of grain ( 454 ). 



In discussing this mode of reclaiming waste land, it is pro- 

 posed to consider the following particulars : The manner 

 in which the plan ought to be carried into effect; The 

 mode in which the flooding operates ; The kinds of water 

 either proper or improper for the purpose ; The seasons 

 fittest for the operation ; and, The advantages and disad- 

 vantages attending it ( 455 ). 



1. Manner of carrying the Plan into effect. This plan of 

 improvement, is only calculated for tracts, where there is a 

 command of water, and an opportunity of stemming it up, 

 so as to overflow the whole surface. In many places, there 

 are such situations, in particular all land-locked peat-mosses, 

 that lie on a level lower than the adjacent springs or rivers. 

 In some districts, 200, 300, and even 400 acres of mossy 

 land, may be laid under water, by raising a single bank at the 

 outlet, which may be effected at a trifling expense. Merely 

 by shutting up such openings, and stemming the streams 

 that flow through them, this species of improvement can be 

 artificially accomplished. 



2. Mode in which the Flooding operates. Some ingenious 

 reasons have been assigned, for the advantages resulting 

 from this process : as, that it promotes the fermentation of 



