On the Theory and Practice of Water-Meadows. 477 



mention, as it has answered in the only experiment I have hitherto 

 made — the application, I mean, of artificial manures. The two 

 chosen were- — guano, as an universal manure ; and sulphate of 

 ammonia, the refuse, I believe, of gas-works, as being the most 

 likely of chemical salts to favour the growth of grass. The guano 

 was applied by mixing it in the gutter as the water was laid on ; 

 the ammonia by distributing it along the edge of the same gutter 

 in another part, where it was rapidly dissolved by the water. 

 Both applications have succeeded : the chemical salt answered 

 the best. The land should be previously dry, that the solution 

 may enter it. 



It may now be convenient, perhaps, to sum up shortly some of 

 the practical points mentioned above. 



It is clear that in the moist climate of Devonshire the system of 

 catchwork which originated on steep slopes has been gradually 

 transferred to land which an unpractised eye would regard as a 

 dead flat. 



It appears also that this inexpensive method of irrigation may 

 be transferred in some degree to our drier and colder inland coun- 

 ties, though caution is still necessary, as Mr. Denison says, that at 

 Clipstone Park, 1 in 9 is the best fall, and that very flat lands will 

 not answer for irrigation. Clipstone Park, however, is far towards 

 the north. The degree of fall suited for each shade of climate is 

 matter for further trial. It should be observed, that since the 

 Devonshire system does not profess to recast the land on a per- 

 fect model, but only to effect its object by using and improving 

 the natural irregularities of the surface, the distribution of the 

 water on the level catch-meadows will not be perfect at first ; but 

 a constant improvement may be made in these meadows by rolling 

 them while they are wet, and by using the earth which is taken 

 out of the gutters in cleansing them every autumn, for raising 

 gradually any spots where the water lodges. 



It should also be remembered that land, if at all unsound, must 

 be underdrained when it is irrigated, and the drains must be 

 larger than ordinary, as Mr. Denison informs us in the excellent 

 paper* to which reference has already been made. The drains 

 should be laid so that the water issuing from them may be made 

 to flow again over on a lower part of the meadow. Drains are 

 the only source of water on Lord Hatherton's meadows at Ted- 

 desley. 



The safest mode of agricultural improvement is, not the adop- 

 tion of entirely new principles or contrivances, but the cautious 

 yet courageous development of existing practice. The level catch- 

 meadow is clearly a promising ground to be worked out ; and in 



* See Journal, vol. i. 



