34 ON IRRIGATION. 



practice to bring the water on the last of April, and to stop flow- 

 ing about the 25th of June. In the spring of two years out of 

 the four that his land has been in a course of experiments, he 

 has applied a very light top dressing. The experiment has 

 been successful and creditable to the enterprise of Mr. J : the 

 average crop of grass for a number of seasons, according to the 

 statement of several disinterested and judicious farmers, had not 

 exceeded 10 cwt. to the acre : for three past years it was nearly 

 equal to 30 cwt. and the present season, was judged to be two 

 tons to the acre ; the quality of the hay is good, and it would 

 command a fair price in the market. 



Irrigation, though long and extensively practised in other 

 countries, has been but seldom attempted here. That it might be 

 profitably employed by many farmers is probable, that it has 

 been so employed by Mr. J. is certain. We will offer him a 

 few suggestions ; if the trial should not prove them to be im- 

 provements, he will have the additional merit of having extend- 

 ed his experiment, and having proved many things, he can hold 

 fast to that which is good. 



We think he should commence flowing earlier in the spring,, 

 and draw off'the water sooner than the 25th of June ; his grass 

 would be ripe earlier, and by bringing on the water directly after 

 the hay is housed, he would probably secure a heavy second 

 crop. If his top dressing were applied in the fall instead of the 

 spring, it would protect the grass in the winter, and might be 

 productive of greater advantage, Mr. J. in his statement re- 

 marks that " observation and judgment are required to know 

 how and when to apply the water;" we agree with him, and of- 

 fer our hints with some distrust of curability to advise him. The 

 writers on the subject whom we have consulted, recommend a 

 course different from his in some respects. They say that the 

 night, and cool or cloudy weather are to be preferred for bringing 

 on the water. They also give a general rule, that no water 

 should be applied, (unless in time of drought,) when the grass is 

 tall and nearly full grown, as it might cause it to lodge, might 

 make it gritty, or give it an unpleasant taste. 



