WATERING OF LAND) 



lower fide to take it away, will not be adequate to all the 

 purpofes of fuch an accurate regulation. If the fpace be- 

 tween the upper channel, or main-feeder, and the lower one, 

 or tna'm-drain, fhould therefore be wider than what is pro- 

 per for the due adjuftment of the water, that is, fo that 

 every part of the fpace may have enough of water paffing 

 over it, and no part too much, then that fpace muft be 

 divided into fmaller fpaces by intermediate drains, which 

 may catch and re-diftribute the water. Thcfe, and the 

 ground capable of being watered in this way, have this 

 term apphed to them, as they catch or colleft the water and 

 re-diilribute it, being in well-formed lands never made 

 more than eight or ten yards apart. As the water is 

 brought by the main-feeder upon the higher fide of a piece 

 of groun'l, which flopes towards tlie main-drain, and down 

 which floping furface the water will very readily run, to 

 perfons unacquainted with watering, it does not at firft 

 fight appear necefiary to make fuch a number of inter- 

 mediate catch-drains ; but it is proved by experience, that 

 however regular the (lope of ground may appear to the 

 eye, the water will find a number of irregularities, force 

 itfelf into gutters or channels, and defeat the purpofes of 

 watering, in the hollow places by excefs, and in the high 

 ones by the want of water. Hence the water that was 

 fcattcred over the furface of the firft fpace, being all col- 

 lefted in the catch-drain, may, by the fl<ill of the floater, be 

 let out upon thofe parts of the bed of ground below, which 

 feem to need the greateil afliftance. 



As it is efientially neceffary to pofTefs full and complete 

 command of the water in all cafes of improvements of this 

 nature, the works tor the purpofe fliould always be well- 

 formed at firft. Temporary means of making dams and 

 hatches to divert the water out of its ufual channel may, it 

 is faid, by the writer of the traft on watering land, fufSce 

 to try an experiment, or for a tenant who has but a ftiort 

 term in the grounds to be watered ; but every land-owner, 

 or other proprietor, who enters upon or undertakes fuch 

 works in this temporary manner, fadly miftakes his own 

 intereft ; indeed, it is frequently more difficult to repair 

 than to renew upon large ftreams, where the foundations are 

 not feldom deftroyed or very greatly injured by the force of 

 the water. The fame principle holds good upon fmall 

 ftreams, and even in the feeders and drains of watered land. 

 Wherever the channels are fo contracted as to make a fali, 

 or much increafe the rapidity of the ftream, it is conftantly 

 difpofcd to wear away tlie fides of its channel, or undermine 

 a dam. The repair of thefe defefts will ftand in need of 

 land to be dug away and wafted each time, they are re- 

 placed with the lofs of labour. The confcquent ill-manage- 

 ment of the water renders it more advifeable, and perhaps 

 cheaper, to make all fuch works of mafonry. When works 

 are well done at firft the owner ever finds a pleafure and 

 fatisfaftion in viewing them ; and even the labourers feel 

 much more intereft in their good management, which is a 

 circumftance not to be overlooked. 



In tlie undertaking of bufinefs of this kind, it is neceffary, 

 before entering upon its execution, to fully confider whe- 

 ther the ftream of water to be made ufe of will admit of a 

 temporary wuir or dam to be formed acrofs it, fo as to 

 keep the water up to a proper level for covering the land 

 without flooding or injuring other adjoining grounds ; or 

 if the water be in its natural ftate fufficiently high without 

 a weir or dam, or to be made fo by taking it from the 

 ilrcam higher up, more towards its fource, and by the con- 

 (Iniftor keeping it up nearly to its level initll it comes upon 

 the meadow or other gound. And ftill further, whether the 

 inralcr cau be drawn off from the meadow or ground in as 



rapid a manner as it is brought on. Having, in addition to 

 all thefe, too, an attention to all fuch other difficulties ami 

 obftruftions as may prefent themfelves, from the lands 

 being in leafe through which it may be neceftary to cut or 

 form the mains or grand carriers, from the water being 

 neceffary for turning mills, from the rivers or brooks not 

 being wholly at the command of the floater, and from fmall 

 necks of land intervening, fo as to prevent the work from 

 being performed to the greateft advantage, the operator 

 may be in a fituation to commence his works. 



The water being thus under full command and regulation 

 in every part of the land to be watered, by a proper direc- 

 tion, ufe, and form of the works, it is fuppofed neceffary, 

 in order to have an equal diftribution, and prevent the wafte 

 of it, that no part of the meadow or land, either in the 

 bed or catch-work mode, fhould be fo formed as to be 

 floated or watered direftly from the main-feeder ; but that 

 all the main-feeders ftiould be kept high enough to dif- 

 charge the water into the fmall feeders with confiderable 

 velocity, and through a narrow opening. The motion of 

 water is faid to be truly mechanical ; and that it requii-es 

 a great deal of ingenuity, and a perfeft knowledge of lines 

 and levels, to make it pafs over the ground in a proper 

 manner. Each meadow or portion of land requires a dif- 

 ferent defign, unlefs the land-owner or tenant makes up hi» 

 mind to the heavy expence of paring off banks, and filling 

 up fuch hollows as may be neceffary to reduce it to fome 

 regular method, the conftruftion to be varied according 

 to the nature of the ground. This conftitutes the difference 

 between the watered meadows or lands of Berkfhire and 

 thofe of Devonfliire. Thofe of the latter county being 

 upon fmall ftreams carried round the fides of the hills, and 

 are chiefly in catch-work ; thofe of the former are near 

 large rivers and boggy ground, being thrown up into ridges 

 to create a briflc motion in tlie water ; and alfo for the 

 effential purpofe of drawing off the fuperficial moifture 

 which might be injurious to the graffes when fhut up for 

 feeding or mowing. Where there is much floating to be 

 done with a little water, or rather where the great fall of a 

 fmall ftream will admit of its being carried over a great 

 quantity of ground, and ufcd feveral times, it is defirable 

 to employ it in fuch a way, though meadows or land fo 

 watered are not to be confidered as perfeft models. If it 

 fhould anfwer the purpofe of a coat of manure upon fuch 

 an extent of ground, it is all that can be expefted, and will 

 amply repay the expence. In all cafes, lofing fall is waft- 

 ing water. All the drains of watered meadows or lands 

 require no greater declivity than is neceffary to carry the 

 water from the furface ; therefore, the water fhonld be 

 collefted and ufed again at every three feet of the fall, if it 

 be not catch-work. It is fometimes difficult to do this in 

 bed-work lands ; but where the upper part of the land is 

 catch-work, or in level beds, and the lower part not too 

 much elevated, it may be done. By coUefting and ufing 

 the water again in the fame piece of ground before it falls 

 into the bruok or other courfe, a fet of hatches is faved, 

 and it is not neceffary to be very particular about getting 

 the upper part into high ridges, fince that part of land 

 which is near the hatches generally becomes the beft, and 

 the lower end of the field being often the wetteft or moft 

 boggy in its natural ftate, requires to be thrown up the 

 higheft. If the laud be of a dry abforbent nature before 

 floating or watering, it is not neceffary that it iTiould be 

 thrown up into high beds. There are many good meadow 

 lands in the county of Wilts that have little work in them, 

 and fome that have neither feeder nor drain : but thefe are 

 extraordinary fituations that do not occur in almoft any 

 X 2 other 



