On Mr. BicJiforcVs Method of Irrigation. 



155 



running way of the water, and, where the stream is small, I 

 should recommend each watering gutter to be just the length of 

 each vertical section. With old " gutterers " there is an adage, 

 *' The more gutters the more grass ;" and I am confident you 

 cannot properly irrigate without the second gutter. 



On one point we are at issue : he prefers to irrigate with 

 water fresh from the spring, whereas I greatly prefer a pond, 

 conceiving that stagnation and exposure to sun and air has a ten- 

 dency to soften and mellow the water, although it may be true 

 that it is only the surface of the pond which is so exposed. 



Finally, I would say that, although Mr. Bickford does not 

 claim the merit either of the discovery of the system or the im- 

 plements he uses (the A level will be found delineated at the 

 end of vol. i. of British Husbandry, there denominated a " rafter 

 level "), yet he is entitled to the credit of having, by adaptation 

 and application of those implements, ''■worked out " a system of 

 the most signal advantage, from its simplicity and efficacy, to 

 every man who has a bit of water-meadow on his estate. 



He has only further to consummate the benefit he has con- 

 ferred on the irrigator, by teaching him how to consume the grass 

 to the best advantage ; and, on suggesting this to him, I was 

 glad to find he was turning his attention to the subject. From 

 November to March is a long time for the farmer to afford his 

 land to remain unstocked with sheep ; and, as our heaviest rains 

 usually fall in the west of England from November to Christmas, 

 this period is, of course, most favourable for the process of irri- 

 gation ; in fact, in this district our grass grows naturally up to 

 December, and often later. Farmers, therefore, generally make 

 a practice of eating the " bite " thereby produced at once, which 

 they say they may as well do as " allow the frost to eat it :" the 

 consequence of which is, that, as the waters fail after Christmas, 

 a second bite can hardly be got on for the time when it is most 

 required, viz., in March, for the ewes and lambs. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



Edward Archer. 



Trelaske, near Launceston, 

 \2th March, 1853. 



