144 On the Formation of Hill- side Catch- Meadows. 



farmyard is a good one, whereby the water-wheel for the pur- 

 poses of the farm is amply supplied — the waste water passed 

 through the yards and under every office, to collect and wash out 

 the sewerage of the whole establishment, and then pass it away to 

 a pond at the outside of the buildings, from which the adjacent 

 meadows are watered. Many parties condemn this process of 

 collecting and using the liquid manure, and consider the plan of 

 a tank, &c.^ for the use of the arable land to be preferable. 



The tank system is good for arable districts, where the above 

 plan cannot be carried out ; but in my case I much prefer the 

 former plan, embracing, as it does, simplicity and cheapness ; and 

 as the water filters when passing over the meadow, nothing is 

 lost, but all is deposited where required, and thus produces early 

 and abundant grass for pasturage for soiling in the sheds or 

 for hay. 



The water which has passed through my yard upon the above 

 plan, has been used upon a selected portion of hill-side land (as 

 an experiment), which in its natural state was partially covered 

 with rough grass and heather, while on some parts not a plant of 

 any kind was ever seen to grow, as may be seen by reserved spots 

 above the present water carriages ; while that below, upon which 

 the water has been used, is now covered with green and daily 

 improving grasses, the chief of which is the white or Dutch clover ; 

 and, singular to state,, not a single seed has ever been sown upon 

 the land. 



Again, by means of the stream passing through the yards, any 

 portion of the farmyard dung may be thrown into it and washed 

 at leisure to the different meadows below, and at periods when 

 possibly horse labour might be invaluable for other operations on 

 the farm. Arable farmers may object to this process ; but let 

 them weigh well the advantage in my case, against the laborious 

 movements of the tank and liquid manure-cart in their own. 

 Should the extent of land suitable to the formation of meadows 

 exceed the supply of water upon a farm, and only one turn of 

 watering be afforded during the season, much may be done by 

 the aid of ponds placed at convenient spots — for instance, where 

 small streams or water-carriages meet. Even a moderate supply 

 of water upon this plan will water from 8 to 10 acres of land. 

 In fact, ''ponds" are invaluable upon any farm, as a constant 

 fermentation goes on when water accumulates, by which the water 

 is turned green, and thus is charged with ingredients forming (as 

 they do) a sediment (mud) which is deposited at the bottom, for 

 after use ; in addition to this the water is found much improved 

 for the purposes of irrigation. During certain periods of the 

 summer season these ponds may be made exceedingly useful by 

 collecting during the day a quantity of water, which may be let off 

 at night ; for instance, when the hay is removed from a meadow. 



