PART IV. AGRICULTURE. 259 



The third mode adopted in the cultivation of pasture lands 

 is flooding, which differs from irrigation only in this, that the 

 ground is covered or flooded with the water, which remains 

 stagnated upon it for a considerable time; whereas in irriga- 

 tion it runs constantly off. Flooding is derived from nature ; 

 for we see it take place when large rivers overflow their banks 

 for some time in the winter season, and leave after them a con- 

 siderable coat or layer of mud or slime which greatly enriches 

 the pasture. It is nearly allied to warping ; but differs from it 

 in this, that warping is used when the quantity of mud depo- 

 sited is so great as would bury the grass, and thence is chiefly 

 used in arable marshes or over salt grass, which being a species 

 of rush (juncus palustris) easily springs through it. Flooding 

 is of immense advantage * to mossy meadows, even though 

 the water be clear and not capable of depositing mud. 



In the preparations for flooding ground, two things are re- 

 quisite : the first is, to Say it as level as possible, or to divide it 

 into different levels ; the second is, to convey the water to them 

 in a safe and judicious manner, so as not to interfere with the 



* On the estates of Baldoon I had the honour of being employed to estimate the 

 advantages to be derived from draining, embanking, irrigating, and flooding ; 

 and the improvement which I conceived the mossy meadows were capable of from 

 flooding was not thought over-rated at triple their present annual value. 



