167 



other, as I have endeavoured to represent 

 in the plates. Indeed, the contraction in 

 tlie width of the feeders and gutters, ser^^es 

 to raise and force back tlie water over 

 their sides; but this is not a sufficient 

 obstruction when the descent is consider- 

 able. Stops and notches have hitherto 

 been thought indispensably requisite in 

 the construction of the^e meadows ; but I 

 have lately been informed by one of the 

 above skilful floaters, that he^ in the last 

 spring, formed a meadow, which distri- 

 butes the water with the utmost regula- 

 rity, without the assistance of either stop 

 or notch. The proprietor of this meadow, 

 (Mr. Talbot, of Penrice Castle, in Gla- 

 morganshire), w^ho seems to have viewed 

 the practice with no common degree of 

 penetration, finding that his land and his 

 stream were properly situated for the pur- 

 pose, was determined, whatever might be 

 y 2 the' 



