522 Oil converting a Moory Hill side into Catch Meadow. 
The water-meadows at Audley End were formed in 1841,y>wn 
old pastwes without disturbing the surface except for the purpose 
of adjusting the levels and cutting the ditches; but in consequence 
of the inequality of the ground many hollow places were filled up 
with fresh moulds, and the produce was not much increased the 
first year of irrigation. 
Although it was not possible to ascertain the exact amount of 
the crops for the succeeding three years, two of the three crops 
grown in each season having been consumed in a green state on 
the ground, yet occasionally single rods taken indiscriminately 
from the first growth of grass have been weighed, to obtain a 
tolerable estimate of the general produce, and affording the follow- 
ing result : — 
First Time of Cutting. 
Weiglit of 
Grass 
per Rod. 
Weight of 
Hay 
per Rod. 
Weight of 
Grass 
per Acre. 
Weiglit of 
Hay 
per Acre. 
1843. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
Toms. 
Cwt. 
Tons. Cwt. 
May 1st . 
143 
39 
10 
4 
2 15 
May 30th . . . 
201 
51 
14 
7 
3 12 
1841. 
April 22nd . . . 
152 
38 
10 
17 
2 14 
May 15th . . . 
211 
62 
lo 
1 
4 8 
1815. 
May 23rd . . . 
170 
44 
12 
2 
3 2 
June 3rd 
218 
56 
15 
11 
4 0 
In the end of July and beginning of August, 1844, a second 
cutting was made of the grass growing on the land above referred 
to, and carried to the homestead in a green state for consumption, 
and this crop appeared nearly as heavy as the first. 
It must be noticed that no deduction has been made for any 
waste of ground arising from the carriers or troughs; but it may 
be presumed, after allowing for this loss of surface, that the aver- 
age produce yielded the three last years has been about 31 tons 
of grass, or 8 tons of hay per acre. 
It appears from the different periods of the year at which the 
crops arrived at maturity, that even on irrigated meadows the 
temperature of the atmosphere in the early part of the spring e.K- 
ercises considerable influence over the growth of the grass, where 
water is not always at command to apply to the meadows. 
Italian rye-grass seems suitable for irrigation, as a patch at 
Audley End measured 3 feet 2 inches in height on the 30th of 
April, 1844. 
Brayurookk. 
