728 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



side cf a jnece of ground which elopes towards the main drain, and down which sloping 

 surface the water will run very readily, it does not, to persons unacquainted with irri- 

 gation, at first sight appear necessary to make such a number of intermediate catch 

 drains ; but it is proved by experience, that, however regular the slope of ground may 

 appear to the eye, the water will find a number of irregularities, forcing itself into gut- 

 ters or channels, and defeating the purposes of irrigation ; in the hollow places by excess, 

 and in high ones by the v/ant of water. Hence the water, which was scattered over the 

 surface of the first space, being all collected in the catch drain, may by the skill of the 

 floater be let out upon those parts of the bed below which appear to need the most 

 assistance. 



4431. Tlie work should always be well formed at first in all cases of improvements of 

 this nature. Temporary means of making dams and hatches to divert the water out of 

 its usual channel may, says Smith, suflfice to try an experiment, or for a tenant who 

 has but a short term in the grounds to be irrigated ; but every land-owner who enters 

 upon such work in this temporary manner sadly mistakes his own interest : indeed, it is 

 frequently more diflRcult to repair than to renew upon large streams, when the foundations 

 are often destroyed by the force of the water. The same principle holds good upon 

 small streams, and even in the drains and feeders of a water meadow. Wherever 

 the channels are so constructed as to make a fall, or much increase the rapidity of the 

 stream, it is constantly disposed to wear away the sides of its channel, or undermine a 

 dam. To repair these defects, land must be dug away and wasted each time it is re- 

 placed, with the loss of labour. The consequent ill management of the water renders it 

 more advisable, and perhaps cheaper, to make all such works of masonry. When works 

 are well done at first, the owner ever finds much pleasure in viewing them ; and even the 

 labourers feel much more interested in their good management. 



4432. The expenses of making a water meadow are not easily estimated. Much depends on the original 

 state of the ground, the size and fall of the streams to be used, the cost of hatches, and length of the 

 main feeders which may be necessary for diverting the water out of its original channel, and even upon 

 the charge for levelling land, which differs materially. Some soils are much harder and more difficult 

 to move than others, and, in certain situations, building materials are very scarce and dear. This last 

 circumstance must make a considerable variation in the price of the hatches, where the stream is 

 large. It is also impossible to tell, with any degree of certainty, what proportion these expenses 

 should bear to the quantity of land irrigated, for some situations will require much more masonry 

 than others. 



4433. Before entering upon the execution of a water meadow, it is necessary to consider 

 fidly, whether the stream of water to be made use of will admit of a temporary wear or 

 dam to be formed across it, so as to keep the water up to a proper level for covering the 

 land ivithout flooding or injuring other adjoining grounds ; or if the water be in its na- 

 tural state suflUciently high without a wear or dam ; or can be made so by taking it from 

 the stream higher up more towards its source ; and by the conductor keeping it up nearly 

 to its level till it comes upon the meadow or other ground : and still further, whether the 

 water can be drav/n off the meadow or other ground in as rapid a manner as it is brought 

 on. Having, in addition to these, an attention to all such other difficulties and obstruc- 

 tions as may present themselves, from the lands being in lease, through which it may be 

 necessary to cut or form the mains or grand carriers, from the water being necessary 

 for turning mills, from the rivers or brooks not being wholly at the command of the 

 irrigator, and from small necks of land intervening so as to prevent the work from 

 being performed to the greatest advantage, the operator may be in a situation to com- 

 mence his operations. 



4434. In order to have an equal distribution and prevent waste, Smith states, that no 

 part of a meadow, either in catch-work or beds, should be so formed as to be floated 

 directly from the main feeder ; but all the main feeders should be kept high enough to 

 discharge the water into the small feeders with considerable velocity and through a 

 narrow opening. The motion of water is truly mechanical : it requires a great deal of 

 ingenuity, and a perfect knowledge of lines and levels, to make it move over the ground 

 in a proper manner. No two pieces of land being exactly alike, renders it still more 

 difficult to set out a water meadow ; but even if the figure of two pieces be alike, the 

 inequalities of surface will probably vary. Each meadow, therefore, requires a different 

 design, unless the landowner makes up his mind to the heavy expenses of paring off banks, 

 and filling up such hollows as may be necessary to reduce it to some regular method ; 

 the construction to be varied according to the nature of the ground. This constitutes 

 the difference between the water meadows of Berkshire and Devonshire. Those of the 

 latter are upon small streams carried round the sides of the hills, and are chiefly catch- 

 work ; those of the former, being near large rivers and boggy ground, are thrown up 

 into ridges to create a brisk motion in the water, and also for the essential purpose of 

 draining off all superfluous moisture, which might be injurious to the grasses when 

 shut up for feeding or mowing- Where there is much floating to be done with a little 

 water, or rather where the great fall of a small stream will admit of its being carried 

 over a vast quantity of ground and used several times, it is desirable to employ it in such 



