IRRIGATION. 



lands, it is xonceived, arifes in a dry feafon ; and if the in fuch cafes tke fucceeding crop of grafs is lefs plentit. 

 fupply fail in fuch fcafons, as frequently happens in many As the fpring feafon advances, much lefs floating is foii- 

 fituations, thtt intention is in part frullrated ; the winter and to be requifite. However, in every cafe where floating i- 

 early fpring waterings being in this cafe all that can be performed to advantage, the land fhould be laid dry bt- 

 commanded for the purpofe. This is given by way of twecn every time of covering it with water, 

 caution ; not as a difcouragement to the practice. There It has been adviled in the beginning to lay the water on 

 are, it is well obferved, in this ifland, fituations innumerable, in the early part of November, fuffering it to overflow from 

 in which the advantages arifing from the praftice, pro- lo to 14 days, and then taken off; repeating the fame 

 perly conducted, would far exceed the expence of ob- proceis in the two following months ; giving in February 

 taining ihcm ; and to afcertain them is an obje£l of the alfo two waterings of from five to fevcn days each ; and 

 firil magnitude to the owners and occupiers of grafs-lands, in March three, of from three to five days each, according 

 and in many inllances, probably in thofe of the arable kind to the ftate of the weather, conftantly permitting the water 

 likewife. to continue longer upon the land in cool than warm wea- 



Hence it may be fafely concluded, that this mode of ther ; and it is hkewifc generally advifed, that on the fandy, 

 improving grafs, or other lands, where it can be had recourfe gravelly, and drier kinds of lands, the water fhould nor 

 to, is of the grcatefl; importance, and of the mod valuable remain fo long at a time as in thofe of the heavier kinds j 

 kind ; and it is probably capable of being applied in a and in the latter forts, Mr. Wright confiders three weeks as 

 greatly more extenfive manner than has yet been the cafe, long enough ; but Mr. Bofwell thinks it may continue on a 

 by the perfons employed in condufting the bufmefs fully month, or even fix weeks in the firft waterings, about No- 

 avaihng themfelvcs of the various occafional falls of rivers, vember, and a fomething fhorter time for thofe of the former 

 ilreams, and, in particular feafons, of canals, as in this way fort of lands. Mr. Wright alfo recommends, in December 

 water may often be provided for the purpofe of dittributing and February, the land to be let dry, for the purpofe of 

 over extenfive trafts of land that have hitherto been thought air for a few days, and that in February particular attention 

 incapable of admitting of fuch means of melioration and is neceffary, not to permit the water to flow over the ground 

 improvement. In other circumftances and fituations, by many days together, without being taken off, as there may 

 having recourfe to damming up the water, and the occafional be danger from white fcum being formed ; and by the land 

 life of wooden pipes in the conveying it where neceffary, being left expofed to froil in its wet ftate, it may be in- 

 it may be eafily raifed to heights fufficient for conducing jured that way. Thefe inconveniencies, it is fuppofed, 

 it over many elevated lands, and by fuch means promote however, by Mr. Wright, may be avoided by taking the 

 their vegetation and produce to a degree that cannot be water off in the day, and turnmg it upon the lauds only 

 eafily calculated or conceived. during the night time. But Mr. Bofwell, who has had ex- 



And, from what has been already done in this way, it is tenfive experience in this way, does not ieem to apprehend 

 evident that, on heathy moors, and other mountainous trafts, any danger from this circumilance to the land, 

 it may often be applied witli the profpecl of great advan- Towards the beginning of the fpring, as about March, 

 tage. In traverfiug fuch hills, iuftances are daily occurring and fometimes fooner, there is moiUy a fufScient bite of 

 of little rivulets or rills, which are infuf&cient to form a grafs to admit the lands to be fed by flock. The water 

 regular courfe, fpreading their waters on particular parts, fhoidd in this cafe be turned off for a fortnight or m.ore, 

 and thus providing a motl beautiful verdure ; which affords in order to give it a fufficient degree of firmnefs before the 

 fufficient proof of what may be effcfted by the judicious animals are turned upon it. During the following months, 

 application of water in fuch fituations. The fame principles it is obferved that the grafs may be eaten clofe, but not 

 may be applied, in many fituations, in conveying the rich later ; as continuing it even for a few days in May would 

 liquors coUcAed in ponds and refervoirs about the farm greatly injure the hay produce which is to be obtained, 

 yards and buildings, that are too frequently wafted by eva- both in quantity and quality. In this month, when the 

 poralion or other means, over the adjoining fields, as has grafs has been fed down, the water fhould, according to 

 been praftifed in Chefhire by Mr. Fenna. Mr. Wright, be again turned over the lands for a few days,- 



To this fyftem of improving grafs-lands, the chief ob- by which they are fo moiftened as to produce a full crop 

 jcftion is, the firil expence of the work ; but if it be con- of hay. It is not improbable but that, with lefs clofe feeding, 

 dufted in a judicious manner, and by perfons acquainted two crops of hay from fuch watered lands might frequently 

 with the bufinefs, this will feldom be fo confiderable as is be taken with benefit. It is remarked by this writer, that 

 commonly fuppofed, or foi-m any material impediment ; as the ilrft crop of hay from watered lands, when cut fuflfi- 

 the increafe of produce, which is almoft immediately the ciently early, is equally good with that cf moft other forts, 

 confequence, will amply repay the improver. It has been but that when let ftand too long, it becomes coarfe and unfit 

 cbjeded to by fome on the ground of cutting the land, but for the purpofe of fodder. 



this is of little confequence if additional fupplies of food be A late philofophical writer has fiiggefted, that where 

 thereby afforded for the fupport of live ftock, and the gra- the flooding of lands is continued fome time, the water 

 dual improvement of the foil at the fame time effeiled. ihow.d only be fuffered to trickle or flow over it gently from 



It may; be ftated that winter and fpring are the two the higher parts, and not ftagnate upon it ; as, in the latter 

 feafons when grounds of the grafs kind are ufually irri- cafe, the gral's roots are foon deftroyed in the fpring, and 

 gated or watered, as from tiie month of November till the that when fuch materials begin to decay underneath the 

 beginning of March. The experience of the operator muft, water, a white fcum arifes in confequence of the air fot at 

 in a great meafure, regulate lliis proceeding as to the length liberty by the beginning putrefaftion, which has been 

 of time they lliould remain under water. In fome diftrifts fufpedled as prejudicial to the grafs, but which is rather the 

 it is the pra&icc to allow the water to flow over the fields effett than thecaufeof the mifchief, and demonftrates that 

 for feveral weeks togetlier, with only the interval of a day the water has remained too long in a ftagnant ftate upon 

 or two occafionally ; while in others the cuftom is to cover the ground, and requires to be removed, or to have a frclh 

 them alternately each other week. When frofts fet in, the fupply from the ftream ; but the former is probably the 

 work is ufually fufpeiided ; but it has been remarked, that better pradice. The necelfity of continuing the irrigation, 

 7 or 



