] 32 AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE. 



what assists the miner, or serves as fodder for beasts of 

 burthen. 



The water-meadows are now systematically laid down 

 in three diiferent manners according to the slope the 

 ground commands, and the abundance or scarcity of 

 water. The engineers are usually the peasants of the 

 neighbourhood, who by practice have acquired great skill. 

 The surveying instruments may be seen in their houses 

 in all the villages, and the precision with which their 

 levels are taken and the flow of water promoted is not 

 a little surprising. The three modes consist in ter- 

 raced beds, and in broad and narrow beds with an ele- 

 vated ridge in the middle. The following are the direc- 

 tions given by the Oberforster Vorlander. The chief 

 canal should be carried as high above the level of the 

 meadow to be irrigated as possible. Where circumstances 

 do not favour the laying down of the canal at a sufficient 

 elevation, and the soil is too soft to allow of the construc- 

 tion of a high dam without great expense, the level of the 

 meadow may be lowered sufficiently to answer the purpose. 

 It must be kept in mind, that by constant watering the 

 level of the meadow is raised in time, for the soil swells in 

 consequence of the accumulation of roots and the addition 

 of particles of humus, as well as from the depth to which 

 vegetation is promoted. When the surface reaches the 

 level of the water-course from which it is irrigated, it 

 becomes necessary to break up the meadow and to lower 

 its surface. 



The mode adopted either to alter the level or to regu- 

 late the unequal surface of a meadow, is not to plough 

 up the ground and crop it with corn or potatoes, although 

 one would expect to obtain rich returns, especially of 



