WATERING OF LAND. 



rowed at pleafure. If the defoent ftraight acrofs the valley 

 be not fufficient, wliere the defcent down it is confiderable, 

 it is advifed to direft the beds obliquely acrofs it, and by this 

 eafy mean gain the required fall. But where the bafe of 

 the valley is wide, fo that the length of the beds, if run out 

 from the natural ftream to the outer bark, will be too great, 

 as from fifty to a hundred yards, wind a conducing trench 

 along the foot of the bank, as well as by the fide of the 

 brook or rivulet, and fink a deep drain in the midway be- 

 tween them. As to what regards the dimenfions of work- 

 ing trenches, they (hould vary according to the breadths and 

 lengths of the beds to be watered. The wider and deeper 

 they are formed, the more freely a large body of water will 

 pafs along them. Hence it is evident, that the upper end 

 of a long trench (hould have the larger dimenfions, in order 

 that a fufficient fupply of water may pafs freely to the fur- 

 ther end, where the dimenfions are required to be lefs ; as 

 ; the uniform contraftion ferves as a continual check to the 

 water, and thus tends to force it in its paffage over the fides 

 of the trench. From fix to fifteen inches wide, and from 

 four to ten inches deep, may ferve to give a general idea, it 

 is faid, of their dimenfions. 



' 3^. Watering by fpread'tng running Water over naturally 

 ■ uneven Surfaces. — In the more weftern counties of this 

 country, but particularly in Devonfhire, this practice has 

 ibeen eftablifhed time immemorial. Even tradition there 

 fpeaks not of its origin. The fpring-waters that ilTue from 

 the fldte-rocks, which are there the prevalent fubftrufture, 

 are of a fertilizing nature; and the fteep valleys that 

 ■there abound are moftly covered with a rich deep foil, fit 

 for hay-ground. Such circumftances may well ferve, it is 

 Ifaid, to account for the prevalence and antiquity of the prac- 

 jtice in that part of the kingdom. Something of this 

 ipraAice, on a fmall fcale, too, has been long in ufe in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country for fpreading the overflowings of 

 dang-yards and pits, and the walh of home-ftalls over grafs- 

 'lands lying below them. Of late years, alfo, it has been 

 employed in different diftrifts, in diftributing the waters of 

 Jmore copious ftreams ; and numerous inftances ftill remain 

 ;in which the praftice may be extended with great and va- 

 luable effefts. 



If tlie quantity of water be fmall, whether it flow from a 

 ifarm-ftead, or a fpring of fuperior quality, it (hould, it is 

 faid, be collefted in a proper place, whenever it is not em- 

 ployed on the ground ; more efpeciaUy in the fpring 

 'months, while the hay-crop is growing, in order to be able 

 |to liberate it, (hould its growth be arreiled by a dry feafon, 

 ind to meliorate the foil as foon as the crop is off the 

 'ground for the benefit of the after-growth. The ground or 

 |fituation of improvement is moftly given in the fource of the 

 water, or the point at which it can be commanded. Where 

 (this is a matter of choice, it is generally advifable to run the 

 thannel of fupply along the brink or brow of a (lope, as 

 above: thus giving the flatter lands above it to the plough, 

 to which in upland fituations they are beft fuited, and the 

 iftecper to the fcythe, as watered hay-grounds, for which 

 they are the moft eligible^ extending the ground downward 

 jto the foot of the (lope, and to the flatter lands beneath it, 

 jprovided their fubfoil be abforbent and open, and the given 

 jquantity of water be fuflScient for the whole extent. The 

 |canal or artificial water-courfe from the natural ftream or 

 bther fource of the water, to the ground of improvement, 

 Jrequires a certain fall, to give a due degree of current to the 

 water it may convey. If the motion of water in a fupply- 

 ing channel be (luggifh, part of it is liable to fink, and be 

 bft by the way. Slowly moving water does not tend to 

 make the bottom of the channel firm and watcr-tiirht. hke a 

 Vol. XXXVIII. ^ 



hvmg (Iream : nor will a channel of the fame «ze convey 

 an equal quantity of water in the fame time; nor wiU it 

 clear itfelf fo well from obftruaions, as with a quicker cur- 

 rent. On tfie contrary, dead water gives the fufpended 

 matter, which (hould be conveyed as nourifliment to the 

 plants, an opportunity of being depofited by the way in the 

 form of mud, for want of agitation, and thereby foufing the 

 channel. On the other hand, if the current be made too 

 rapid, it is liable to wear the channel, and to caufe unne- 

 cefl'ary repairs. Befides, where all the height that can be 

 properly got is required, every foot of fuperfluous fall con- 

 trads, unnecefl'arily, the field of improvement. On the 

 grounds of praftical experience, it is fuppofed, that one per 

 cent, as one inch, foot, or yard of faU, in every hundred 

 inches, feet, or yards of diftance, is, in ordinary cafes, the 

 proper fall : this giving an aftive but inoffenfive current. 

 Under the above circumftances, and where the length of 

 channel required is great, one -hslf per cent, may be made to 

 fuffice. Two-thirds of the ordinary fall gives a degree of 

 life to the ftream, and may, in many cafes, be eligible and 

 proper. 



In fetting out water-courfes of this nature and fort, the 

 ufe of the level is neceffary ; and the beft forms of fuch 

 courfes, whatever the fize may be, are thofe of inverted 

 arches, as clearing themfelves better when low in water, 

 and giving firmer banks on the lower fides than is the cafe 

 with fquare flat-bottomed fteep-fided trenches. The modes 

 of performing the work, and of laying them out properly, 

 muft be direded by the particular turn of the furface of 

 the grounds. 



In the low lands which lie at the feet of the (loping 

 grounds, the natural furfaces of which are fufBciently un- 

 even to admit of running water being fpread over them, 

 without the alTiftance of art ; and the fubftrata of which are 

 fufficiently abforbent and open, to permit them to dry 

 quickly, after the water is taken off : the method of water- 

 ing, where they lie pretty regularly ftielving, is to lead 

 the water along the higher fide of the land, and to draw it 

 off by a main-drain on the lower fide ; ftraight working 

 trenches and correfponding drains being cut, downward of 

 the area, fo as to fpread the water over the whole, without 

 fuffering it to lodge on any part of the furface. This is 

 that which may be diftinguifhed by the Devonftiire praftice, 

 or manner of watering. 



Where, however, the furface is more irregular, lying in 

 natural fwells and ridges, with dips and hollows between 

 them, the water is to be led along the tops of fuch higher 

 parts, without regard to the ftraightnefs or regularity of the 

 trenches ; and the drains to wind up the hollows and loweft 

 ground with the fame irregularity. There are two ways 

 of afcertaining the true lines of the trenches and drains in 

 cafes of this nature. The one is by flooding the entire area, 

 where it can be done, and driving down levelling-pegs over 

 every part of it, fo as to leave their heads uniformly level 

 with the furface of the water ; which being let ofT, the 

 (horteft pegs fliew the proper lines for the trenches, the 

 longeft thofe of the drains. This method was ufed by 

 Bakewell, in Leicefterlhire. The other, which has occurred 

 in the writer^s experience, is attended, it is faid, with lefs 

 trouble and inconvenience. The higher parts are readily 

 afcertained, and the lines of the trenches accurately traced 

 by a proper levelhng implement ; artificial mounds being 

 raifcd between the detached knolls when wanted. After the 

 frcfli-made ground has properly fettled, and the trenches 

 have been duly formed, the water is turned on ; and by this 

 ready mean, the proper lines of the drains are accurately 

 given. This is an eafy way of watering valley lands ; and 

 Y where 



