140 On the Formation of Hillside Catch- Meadows. 



ewes with their early lambs (in January) feeding upon the ver- 

 dant meadow, to me was a miracle ; — first, the early period of 

 lambing, and, secondly, the green meadow at such an inclement 

 season. But if we turn to nature as our guide, we find the green 

 grasses ever springing at the water's edge, and yet doubly verdant 

 at the springs, even to the very summit of our forest hills, at an 

 elevation of 1000 feet ; thus these practices of agricultural art are 

 dictated to us, and are alone waiting the skill and enterprise of 

 man to cultivate and extend them. 



In my early inquiries as to the profitable formation of Catch- 

 Meadows " on Exmoor, I found much importance attach to the 

 quality of water for irrigation, but accompanied with a doubt as to 

 its varied properties (mineral or otherwise), the general remark 

 being that warm springs " were found best for irrigation. The 

 undertaking was therefore deferred by me for a time, with a view 

 to some experiments being tried, as it appeared certain that it was 

 next to useless my making even an attempt with the then existing 

 waters, in their impure and boggy state. In the interim all 

 drains, fences, &c., were laid out with a view to subsequent 

 irrigation, and notes taken of passing results. 



These experiments went to show, that the waters flowing from 

 the wet peaty hill tops, and joined (or not) in their course by the 

 waters from the uncultivated valleys, were dangerous agents, and 

 from the extent of their course appeared formidable enemies ; 

 while in every case where proper drainage had been practised, 

 the water flowed in a pure and healthy state, and at the stream's 

 side were to be seen green and improving grasses. This deter- 

 mined me to take steps for the collection and distribution of these 

 waters upon the forest hillside grasses by means of catch-gutters, 

 with a view to eradicate the moss, and improve them without 

 going through the usual process of cultivation, viz., paring, burn- 

 ing, ploughing, liming, &c., which operations, too, in some cases 

 would be difficult to perform from the declivity of the hill side. 



Again, upon a large uncultivated hill farm, that had never been 

 broken up from its original or native state, and waiting for cul- 

 tivation, it appeared doubly important that the best " table land " 

 should be ploughed first, and an endeavour made to improve the 

 hill sides by water and the washings of manure and soil, that 

 would pass off during the rainy season from these upper arable 

 lands. Before proceeding to the formation of the meadows, a 

 general survey of the whole scheme was effected, the levels taken, 

 and all local difficulties considered. In fact, the whole subject 

 occupied my mind for some few months previously : thus many 

 intricate points were overcome, and new designs suggested them- 

 selves. The laying out of a water-meadow is but a secondary con- 

 sideration, when compared with some general points, such as the 

 certain supply of water, its quality, the facilities of improving it by 



