170 



#ater to any part of a meadow which the 

 larger ditches will not effectually reach, 

 whether it be to the extreme angles of 

 the ridges, as is represented in plate 1, 

 T. T., or to any part in a wide and imper- 

 fectly formed bed, which is higher than 

 its general surface. A trench of this sort 

 is cut from the floating-gutters, about six 

 or seven inches wide on the surface, and 

 terminating, at the bottom, in nearly a 

 right angle; ami the portion of earth 

 which is thus cut oiit, . is regularly laid 

 unbroken along the lower side of the 

 trench, both to keep vpi^ the water to its 

 desired height, and to be restored and 

 trodden down with the turf uppermost* 

 when the floating is finished, into the 

 upace which it before occupied. When 

 the soil is thus replaced, the green-sward 

 is not only not injured, but is improved 

 by this cutting; for an extraordinary 

 Juxuriancy is always discernible, in the 



hay- 



