280 



On the Drainage of Land. 



been constructed, at a favourable level, about half a mile distant 

 from the farm, the buildings of which are in a central situation. 

 Here at the farm-yard a mill has been built ; and it is a work 

 which, both in its conception and execution, does infinite credit 

 to Mr. Bright, for not only is there much merit in various con- 

 trivances by which the water is conducted to it, almost everywhere 

 in covered drains and carriers, but it was necessary to seek a level 

 to carry off the water at a considerable depth, by driving a head- 

 way through a bed of hard sandstone from a distance of about 

 500 yards. The stream of water was of course not sufficiently 

 powerful to turn an under- shot wheel; and, to enable it to act 

 with force, it was necessary to bring it out to the upper part of a 

 wheel of 30 feet diameter. This wheel has been placed in the 

 rock 35 feet deep, and the head-way has been carried from the 

 bottom through the rock, which comies out in a valley below, at 

 the distance, above mentioned, of 500 yards. 



The mill and this channel for the water cost very little more 

 than 1000/. : it works a thrashing machine ; cuts hay and straw, 

 and kibbles oats and barley for a stock consisting of about 250 

 horses and cattle ; grinds malt ; and also turns a circular saw, 

 which does great part of the sawing for a large estate. The 

 annual saving by this machinery has been carefully estimated at 

 about 400/., and it is still intended to apply the power to other 

 purposes. 



From this wheel, and from another small carrier, v/hich is made 

 to pass immediately under the farm-yard (where all the urine and 

 moisture that runs from the manure is carefully collected in a re- 

 servoir, which overflows into the carrier), the water has been 

 conducted over lands, — principally uplands, — containing altogether 

 89 acres^ at an expenditure of only 224/. 4,9. \Qd. : by which an 

 improvement of 2/. per acre has been effected, or 178?. per annum. 

 This is Mr. Bright's calculation ; but it is difficult to estimate 

 the importance of such an acquisition as 89 acres of productive 

 water-meadow to a large farm like this, on which there is (espe- 

 cially on the upper part of it) a great quantity of very dry and 

 thin soil. I know no other place in which drain-water has been 

 turned to such good account ; luckily, the water is all soft, and 

 good for irrigation. 



Summary. 

 Total Expenditnre. 



Underdraining, as per statement 

 For erecting water-wheel and machinery 

 Irrigation ...... 



£. s. d. 



. 1508 17 4 



. 1000 0 0 



224 4 10 



£ 2733 2 2 



