332 
The Improvement of Grass Lands. 
in a few years Local Boards of Health will undoubtedly be pre- 
vented from sending- the sewage into and polluting the rivers 
when there is land available below almost every town for its 
profitable reception. This sewage can be applied according to 
circumstances. I cannot do better than describe the Edinburgh 
water-meadows, in the examination of which I spent the greater 
portion of a day in the summer of 1866. These meadows are 
principally laid out on the ridge-and-furrow system ; and the 
water-bailiffs informed me that each occupier had the use of 
the water once in every week or nine days, and that they generally 
turned it upon the portion last cut. I observed in some places that 
the grass grew remarkably coarse and strong, and upon examina- 
tion I found it to be couch-grass {Triticum reipens). This, the 
bailiffs said, many of the occupiers preferred on account of its 
rapid growth ; the bulk was larger than that of the finer grasses, 
whilst it did not scour the animals so much. Amongst the 
occupiers with whom I had the opportunity of talking was one 
who gave me much information. He said that he remembered 
the meadow where we were standing a wild common on the 
sea - shore only thirty years previously ; on it there were 
generally encampments of gipsies and other wanderers ; people 
were afraid to cross it after nightfall, and the land was of no 
value in an agricultural point of view. During the thirty years 
this land had so improved in value that some of it had been let 
by auction for as much as 42/. per acre per annum. He had not 
given quite so much for his portion, which was four-fifths of an 
acre, but he kept four milch-cows and a pony upon its produce. 
This may appear incredible to many. 1 mention it to show to 
what extent the improvement of meadow-land may be carried. 
This 42/. rental, at 30 years' purchase, would give 1260/. per 
acre as the value of land that a quarter of a century before was 
worthless. Croydon and other places may also be cited as illus- 
trating the value of the application of sewage-manure to grass 
land. But I proceed to notice the ridge-and-furrow system, 
which is largely adopted in some parts of the country and with 
very valuable results. The greatest objection to the system is 
the expense, the cost of properly laying out the land being often 
as much as 60/. to 80/. per acre ; but, after it is effected, it 
is certainly a valuable acquisition to a farm. Much mischief is 
often done by leaving the water too long upon the meadows. 
When a film covers the water it should be turned to another 
part. This film generally comes upon the water in a week or 
nine days. If possible, just before frost sets in the farmer should 
turn the water on and let it remain till the frost disappears; but 
he should avoid turning it on or letting it off during severe frosts. 
The catch-water system I must call most attention to, as it 
