138 



intelligent Scotsman, Mr. Kerb, who had 

 the management of these meadows, com* 

 plained much of this boasted absorbent 

 quality of the land 



Page 62, Mr. Smith says, " Whether 

 ** the heat of the water be or be not the 

 '* cause of this extraordinary vegetation 

 *' of grasses in a water-meadow, it may be 

 <* difficult to determine." 



If heat be the cause here mentioned, 

 spring-water must be the only water fit 

 for the purpose of irrigation ; for all other 

 water will be found of the same tempera- 

 ture with the common air, to which it has 

 been some time exposed; and spring- 

 water, after it has flowed a certain distance 

 or time, or has passed in a thin sheet over 

 « bed of grass, will lose its native heat, 

 and will then freeze as soon as river-water : 

 emd this power of resisting the effect of 



frp§t 



