I R R I G A T I O N. 



315 



Irr- ' 

 ..: -.- 

 BCCt< VU 

 far I'MOI 

 pcricctiuo 



Ore ' ' . 



F" ' 



my h-i ar 



i. : 



i .-. 



ter, not only in the improvement of soils by irrigation, 

 but i:i creating uew -oils by wirping ; \tt we cannot 

 extend our view* without becoming sensible, tltatth'mgti 

 much has been done in tins tieid of improvement, a 

 re.it deal more tiil remains to be accomplished, 

 truth H, that it* draining and embanking were 

 fonshartad on liberal principles, with a view to, and 

 .icction with irrigation, there would be In r more 

 advantage reultiii;r from their union, than can ever be 

 secured In attending to them <eparately. It may also 

 be remarked, that. these arts, though greatly improved, 

 re yet far from practical perfection. Errors equally 

 frequent and gross are still committed in them all, and 

 these have tendency to bring unmerited reproach 

 upon art* of great utility to man. 



It is not an eay matter to convince mankind, how 



r.- . 



I in 



much U really within the power of human skill and in- 

 dustry. The first settlers in the American colonies 

 would not have believed what improvement, even in 

 the climate, was to follow the draining and cultivation 

 of their lands after the forest* di -appeared Many ages 

 elapsed, brfore the people of Kgypt were capable of 

 dul. appreciating the full swell of the Nile, and of turn- 

 ing it* enriching floods to most advantage The treat- 

 ment and cultivation of soil* enriched by flooding, and 

 the due application of industry and sk.il in rai-ing the 

 matt suitable crops, require time and patience ; and can 

 seldom or never be fully attained, unless the political 

 tot* of a country be favourable to its improvement. 

 In thii virvr. irr:_ itimi fairlv appear* as part of an 

 MsjUsive system of national economy, which ought to 

 embrace the hubandry of every country to which tin's 



i Iw of material use. 



I ni .m n<* additional supplies of grass) have been raised 

 in F.n/Und within the present age by means of irriga- 

 tion. The*e have contributed in very Urge propor- 

 tion to the support ol live stock ; and 'of coarse they 

 havraddt-.l ie general produce and value 



of the soils on which Utii an was employed, but also to 

 x.-k of manure which has been turned, with great 

 etfert, to the purposes nf arable husbandry. An in- 

 creasing populstion has famished at once I he labour 

 necesnary, ami markets for the produce : and irrigation 

 baa thus, indirectly, but in a very considerable degree, 

 increased the value and the produce of corn lands. This 

 n and important fact ought to recommend the 

 Continuance of a system fraught with so much advan- 

 tage, and to lead to farther improvement in its prin- 

 ciples and progress. 



i -ii the other hand, it cannot be denied that errors 

 have been committed in respect of this an Ithasbecn 

 eagni not tried in situations where nature did not favour the uc- 

 cess of it ; or it baa been employed in order to force a 

 produce for which there was not an adequate demand ; 

 or it has been attempted to such an extent as exceeded 

 the proper supplies of labour within the district : and 

 in all thee and other similar cases, the failure has been 

 most unjustly ascrib d to the an itself, when in (act 

 it aru-e from errors OB the pan of those who con- 

 ducted it. 



Atumion Notwithstanding the generally enriching qualities of 

 ""f*" 1 the flood* which are sent down by tropic*! rsmv it re- 

 quire* both skill ami attention to cultivate the soils to 

 advantage, and to plant in every soil and situation the 

 1 suitable crop*. A cold and moist climate also re- 

 i a similar portion of -kill in order to turn irriga- 

 -iton to most account ; which n-w-r in Britain much 

 better for grass th in for corn. Without this requisite 

 kill and attention, it U evident that no art whatever 



Kiwn la 



UlU art 



b.rh- 

 mill on if. 



can prosper : errors, therefore, which proceed from this Irrigation, 

 want, ought in no degree to bring discredit on the art ^^"Y^"" 

 itself. 



The art of irrigation, fully considered, and improved Improved 



bv observation, in connection with tfiat of draining and and vari 



, - BtOMS of ir- 



oi embanking, has been so highly improved in >ome parts rlgauoll- 



of the globe, as to approach towards a scientific charac- 

 ti-r. Its features vary, indeed, so much, in different 

 climates, as hardly to permit us to view them in a pro- 

 per light. We contemplate in succession, the nt-w 

 established system of irrigating for grass in England ; 

 that of the south of France and of Lombardv for gni", 

 vines, olives, mulberries, and other purposes ; and 

 though mu.-li ingenuity and considerable diversity ap- 

 pear, we hesitate not to pronounce the whole indue led 

 in vine art. But where nature takes the lead, and hu- 

 man agency is employed only to promote the utility of 

 her o|HT.itions, we hardly recognire the art of irrigation : 

 yet it is really of great importance, not only on the 

 lesser, but the larger scale ; and the shepherd who pro- 

 perly directs the course of a mountain streamlet, or 

 turns the collected waters of his drains, in order to 

 prevent stagnation or waste, and of course to promote 

 the health of his flock, at the same time directing these 

 waters in sucN a manner as to fertilize barren spots of Bc | on _ (o 

 foil, and thus to furnish additional supplies of food, ,H C ,, a ' me 

 really belongs to the .name class of artists, as those who mt. 



1111 of embankment, or otherwise, direct to the 

 moat useful ends the vast inundations of tropical rivers. 

 The features of this art of irrigation appear very diffe- 

 rent. Iml t e . rt itM-lf it the same. 



In what manner does water operate in fertilizing Min in 

 barren soil* ? As an element, it furnishes direct sup- whlcl1 " 

 plies of (be food which is partly required for plants ; 

 as a medium lor moderating the temperature of the cli- 

 mate, it lessens the rigour of cold in some regions, and 

 of heat in others ; as a destroy er of some noxious weeds, 

 it extirpates, when under proper direction, many plants 

 . .ire hurtful to i.iriciikiire. such as broom, heath, 

 and moss : and it may be used in order to convey over 

 the soil fertilizing and enriching substances. In each 

 of these modes ol operating there occur various fea- 

 tures, and thee mint ! well con-i.li red. in order to 

 secure moit of tii-c U neficial effects which water is 

 qualirk-d to promote by irrigation. 



It follow* of course, that great attention ought to be Qualities if 

 given to the qualities of water intended fur this pur- "" waters. 

 pose ; and that before incurring l.ilxjur and ex pence in 

 the application of it, l\\c^e qualities ought first to be 

 known. This may be done partly by analysis ; but 

 most certainly by experiment conducted on a moderate 

 small scale. In general, spring waters are fertilizing, 

 and posset* also an equable temperature ; but impreg- 

 nations of iron are frequent and hurtful even in springs: 

 petrifying -prin^-. which ho <l lime in solution, are 

 commonly fertilising: mossy waters are generally poor ; 

 and such as convey enriching sediment, promise the 

 most effectual and permanent improvement. These 

 IsMt, ought not, however, to be confined in basons, other- 

 wise they will deposit their sediment there, instead of 

 conveying it directly over the lands ; but in particular 

 ca -en, when these basons are to be occasionally cleared 

 out, this caution may not be applicable. 



The natural produce for which irrigation is best Product of 

 adapted, in particular soils and climates, come- next mi- thi " "" 

 df r consideration. Here the mere operator is not al- P ro 

 ways a competent judge ; and it may require tin- ci.m- 

 hin'ril Itgttts of hiitory and tradition, observation and 

 experience, to ascertain the tact ; but there U no doubt 



