Improved System of Irrigation. 



163 



chief features of the system consist in causing ^the ground in- 

 tended to be irrigated, to be covered with a net-work of small 

 gutters, intersecting each other as nearly at right angles as cir- 

 cumstances will permit. These gutters are about 4 inches wide 

 and 1 inch deep ; they are cut with a *' die,^^ fixed in a sort of 

 plough of simple constraction, drawn generally by one horse. 

 This net-work of gutters is fed at the highest level possible, or 

 thought desirable, by a carriage gutter of sufficient size for the 

 purpose, to be determined by the operator. 



The system will be fully brought to view in the course of the 

 description I shall give of the manner to be pursued in laying 

 down the levels. 



Fig. 1. 



Let fig. 1 be a piece of meadow ; look first where 

 enters the meadow, or where it can he made to enter, 

 matter of some importance, and 

 should be considered well, in order 

 to get the best suppl}- of water, at 

 the best place, and at the least ex- 

 pense. Let this be ascertained to 

 be at A in figure 1. Then esti- 

 mate roughly where it may be sup- 

 posed the water will run ; sup- 

 pose along the dotted line 1 .... 2. 

 Then take the level (fig. 2), and 

 proceed to mark a line across the 

 meadow, according to the following 

 rule. Stand the feet Xos. 1 and 2 

 (fig. 2) level on the ground by 



the water 

 This is a 



