164 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ted land doubled per acre that of the dry 

 meadow. It exceeded two tons per acre. 

 The difference in color and growth was ob- 

 servable at a distance of 300 yards. The 

 whole 14 acres were irrigated in the Spring 

 of 1855, though, on account of a drought 

 extending through the previous winter, 

 with an insufficient supply of water. On 

 the first of June, when all (he other mea- 

 dows of the neighborhood seemed parched 

 and withered up, this meadow presented a 

 coat of luxuriant verdure beautiful to be 

 hold, and promised a most abundant crop, 

 which however was reduced more than 

 one half by a violent hail-storm on the 20th 

 of the same month. The watered portion, 

 nevertheless, doubled in product the dry 

 portion of the meadow, and yielded over 

 one ton of timothy hay per acre. The 

 result of the experiment is so satisfactory, 

 that 18 acres additional are now being pre 



pared for irrigation, and the improvement 

 will be extended to every piece of land on 

 the farm accessible to water. In its 

 construction, forty dollars have been ex- 

 pended for hired labour. The remainder 

 of the work was performed by the farm 

 force, at idle periods, which, if charged at 

 it full value, would have increased the ex- 

 penditure some $80 or $90. The whole 

 cost of construction has certainly not ex- 

 ceeded $150. It should however be stated 

 thai the position of the land was unusually 

 favourable for irrigation. The Improve- 

 ment is believed to have added $75 per 

 acre to the value of the meadow. The crop 

 of hay of 1854 could have been sold on the 

 farm for $300. A sketch of this meadow is 

 annexed. If referred to, it will serve to ex- 

 plain any obscurity in the practical part of 

 this paper. 



References. 

 1). M. drymeadow subject to inundation, 

 H. M. high meadow too high for irrigation, 

 B. R. Brown's Run, 

 m. c main conductor, 

 b. c. branch conductor, 

 s. d. slice ditch, 

 d. d. d. d. discharging ditch, 

 a. c. feeder, 

 w. f. water furrow, 

 s. s. stops, 

 n. n. notches. 



