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if suffered to continue any length of time. 

 Irrigation is the classical and fashionable 

 term used upon this occasion, but is too 

 confined in its sense to give a full notion 

 of the practice- 



F/oating, in my opinion, comes nearer 

 to express what is meant by the practice 

 in its most complete state, than any other 

 word in our language : and it is probably 

 the original appellation of the art ; for 

 we find it used by Blith in 1653. I lay 

 the more stress on this point, that I may, 

 if possible, divert the attention of those 

 who wish thus to improve their land, from 

 small rivulets and springs, and fix it on a 

 more ample source of manure. I wish to 

 turn the thoughts of men of property to 

 canals, and to rivers larger even than any 

 that have hitherto been made serviceable 



D m 



