Farming of Cumberland. 



293 



the eastern range of mountains, extending to the northern limits 

 of the county, which, if they could be cheaply kept separate from 

 the peaty waters, would be useful in irrigating the dry inclosures 

 on the hill-sides, but the cost would in many instances over- 

 balance the profits ; and the sheep stand in the way of irrigating 

 the pastures on which they feed, for the rot would ensue to a cer- 

 tainty. The springs rising along the bases of the mountains, 

 coming from the granite, clayslate, and metamorphic rocks, bring 

 away only small portions of fruitful ingredients in solution. They 

 issue from the rock as clear as crystal, and leave no sediment 

 among the grass ; but if they can be applied, for short intervals 

 in the winter months, to meadows at a little distance from whence 

 they arise, and while they retain the higher degree of temperature 

 they bring from the bowels of the earth, the effect is usually good. 

 Their natural warmth has its effect on the soil and herbage, and 

 is instrumental in bringing to life the countless myriads of ani- 

 malcula which the microscope reveals to our senses. 



Professor Johnston* attributes the enriching properties of irri- 

 gation " to the removal of noxious substances from the soil, the 

 addition of enriching food, saline, organic, or gaseous ;" and there 

 are few of our streams (those from peat excepted) which do not 

 convey some portion of either mineral, animal, or vegetable in- 

 gredients to the soil, and rarely in such quantity as to be hurtful. 



The writer has been at some pains to try the effect of lime 

 slaked in the main cut of a water-meadow, and floated in that 

 way over the surface. The water was of a peaty nature, with a 

 small portion arising from springs and drains in clayey pasture- 

 ground, and the meadow to which it was applied is clayey also, 

 and drained. No improvement followed ; but it must be admitted 

 that an experiment on a purely dry soil, which the farm does not 

 contain, might have been attended with a better result. 



It is not often that manures, not strictly chemical, are applied 

 to 'meadows in the winter or spring months, experience having 

 pointed to the season immediately after the hay is cleared, as the 

 manure is then laid in closer contact with the surface, and is then 

 quickly covered with the rising vegetation, if the season be not 

 droughty. 



Bailey and CuUey say, " The largest tract of natural meadow, 

 in this county, is in the parish of Scaleby," This tract now 

 extends to upwards of 1000 acres, and has been much improved 

 within the last twenty years. About the year 1830 a bond was 

 entered into by the parties occupying lands to be improved by 

 the deepening of Brunstock Beck, which drains the Scaleby 

 meadows. The improvement has been greater, and extended 



* Elements of Agric. Chem. and Geology, p. 258, &c. 



