IMPROVEMEIsrT OF SOILS. 41 



of growth known to English agriculture is obtained, is 

 conducted generally on the ''Bed-work" system. The 

 most rapidly growing succulent crops, and Italian Rye- 

 gi'ass is the best of them all, are employed, and the water 

 IS poured on probably at the rate of four hundred tons 

 per acre, equal to a thickness of four inches of water, 

 during a few hours twice in the growth of a single crop 

 or cutting. The land being drained passes the whole of 

 this rich and fertilizing flood among the fibrous roots 

 of the plants by which its substance is permeated. And 

 a cutting of ten to fifteen tons weight per acre of the 

 grass is obtained as the result of not more than a month 

 or five weeks' growth. The land is soaked twice or thrice 

 at intervals of a fortnight after each cutting ; and four 

 or five cuttings of grass are thus obtained from the ap- 

 pliction of four or five thousand tons of the filthy water 

 in the course of the year. Here, as well as in ordinary 

 irrigation accompanied by land drainage, the result is 

 due to an added temperature, and an addition of plant 

 food, both of which the soil experiences, and especially 

 to the constant motion and passage of this food beside 

 and among the hungry roots of the ]olants which feed 

 upon it. 



