148 On the Formation of HiU-side Catch- Meadoics. 



aifording abundance of hay for the winter season, early feed for 

 the ewes and lambs, and, what is best, little manure need be 

 returned to the meadow, but most may be supplied to the arable 

 lands ; still a portion of the hay should be used at the meadow to 

 improve the water, as previously named. I have extended the 

 washing out of black soil" to the cultivated lands (meadows) 

 sown with artificial grasses, and with good elfect. These are 

 formed above the steep hill-side meadows, commencing at the 

 point of moderate declivity. No extra expense has been gone into 

 beyond the usual plan of cultivation for the arable lands, viz., by 

 paring and burning the native grass, followed by a dressing of lime 

 and sown with roots, root-crops following with spring corn and 

 grass-seeds in the ensuing year. In the autumn (after the corn has 

 been removed) the '^'^ gutters" are laid out and cut, but from the 

 more moderate slope or fall upon these lands they are placed rather 

 thicker than upon the hill-side, and vary much in their direction, 

 from the uncertain run of the land, such lands having frequently 

 two falls, one with the fall of the country, the other to the brook 

 below. Owing to the moderate descent, these meadows are watered 

 the first season, observing to let the water pass over them thinly, 

 otherwise the unsettled mould would wash away and thus prove 

 injurious to the roots of the grass rather than be a benefit. 



By far the better plan for laying down a permanent meadow is 

 to follow the root crop with a crop of rape and grass seeds to be 

 fed off with sheep ; by this plan the land is both enriched and 

 well settled, by the trampling of the sheep, for the purpose of 

 watering in the autumn. The expense of laying out these 

 meadows may be summed up under two heads, viz., \0s. per acre 

 for cutting the gutters or water-carriages, at an average distance 

 of 22 yards (large and small), and bs. per acre for all other works, 

 such as the necessary culverts through the fences, under gate- 

 ways, &c., flood-gates, hatches, extra water-carriages for fetching 

 distant water to any given point or pond. 



The cattle-sheds placed upon the main water-carriages cost 

 5Z. each (complete), they being formed in sheltered situations, 

 adjoining or in stone-quarries, by which means the carriage of the 

 stone is saved, and the wood for roofing is given by the landlord 

 fat the wood) ; these are separate payments to be met by improved 

 condition of the cattle. The extra cross fences for making small 

 meadows cannot well be charged to the water account, still I 

 confess that the meadow will be worth more by the additional 

 shelter afforded by these fences. The meadows formed, gutters 

 cut, and all other requisites supplied, are as nothing without a 

 certain supply of water, and unless accompanied with strict 

 attention to every branch of the undertaking. 



