The hay of watered meadows is most properly calcu lated for black cattle, and on it they thrive But as to profit, undoubtedly any sort of hay that i-. eaten by sheep in times of snow storms, is most profita bly given to feed these animals, and to save snow With respect to horses, it is much better, so far as I have had experience, to feed them on the hay of rye grass and clover, or on the natural hay of any dr% grounds, than on the best meadow hay ; but from what I have heard from others, meadow hay may be used for horses if prudently selected, and moderately allowed, without perceiving much inferiority in it for this pur pose.
I have never seen milk cows or young cattle prosper better than when fed in winter on turnips, (in moderate quantities,) with plenty of good straw, weaning them gradually off the turnips, and putting them entirely to fine hay of watered meadows in spring. Such hay for beasts I esteem fully equal to the best hay of rye-grass and clover, but it does not fetch so high a price in the market. The appearance, however, the sweet smell, and the fine pile of rich watered, or top-dressed mea dows, when the produce has been well made, and at an early season, quite surpass those of the hay of rye-grass and broad clover.
As the farmer must have it in his power easily to float his meadows, or lay them perfectly dry, at plea sure, irrigation includes draining as a part of the sys tem. It also necessarily embraces enclosing, without which the meadow may suffer from the stock, or the stock may be injured by the meadow. When the land is floated, it should be fully done, not attempting toe much at a time ; and when laid dry, it should be cleared of every drop of water. By this alternate succession,— of water to enrich, with all its contents and elementary powers, or to maintain the temperature most favourable to vegetation,—followed by free air, sun, and light,— the plants not only rise in abundance, but also. prosper to a high degree. And hardly any soil, however amply or expensively manured, returns such weighty crops of hay and pasture, as watered meadows: Their ample produce going, in the mean time, to enrich the other contiguous soils ; while on the meadows, no manure w hateVer is bestowed, ex( e lit such as the water contains. In the practice of irrigation, it has been established, that meadows require a much greater proportion of days throughout the year to be dry, than to be floated ; and this proportion seems to vary according to circum stances, in the soil, water, and climate.; but the periods of watering seem to run between six and nine weeks in the whole year, all the different periods of floating being included.
It is evident, that water, as a mere clement, raises the temperature during winter, so long as it is capable of resisting the frost, that arrests the course of ve,geta lion in general. In summer it is equally evident, that moderate watering corrects that extreme drought, which tends to wither the grass ; and by supplying moisture and nutriment equal to the growth and per spiration, the vessels are prevented from shrinking be fore the drought. It is known, that, in drying, the hay of watered meadows loses more weight than the hay of other meadows exactly similar in point of soil, but not watered. Water may therefore be useful as a mere clement, for protecting and nourishing grass, to a cer tain degree. But when mud is diffused in it, or calca reous matters dissolved, and the glass has the power of straining these substances out of the water, thenr effects may readily be conceived.
When searched of all its mud and other matters which it holds dissolved, in as far as the grass has that power, the fluid is called used water' by the workmen, and considered inferior to fresh water for irrigation. It is certain, that close by the feeders, the grass on the ridges of floated meadows exceeds that which grows by the drains ; but the w oitmen do not always appear to consider that the soil is (onsumtly det per near the small feeders on the crowns of those rid.;cs ; and that during winter, the water must also have had its temperature diminished, on account of it, spreading over the surface, by the time it reaches the drain. 1 have noticed indeed, that the turbid water is filtered on the grass, and be comes more clear, so that it must have parted with its mud and sediment; and I have also thought that the water tasted more flat, or after passing over a considerable surface of grass lands. But waterig also appears to assist in the putrefaction of dead substances in the soil, which manure the living plants, and when thus decomposed, and reduced into their original ele ments, are fit to form new combinations." Dr Singers, after stating, that the extent of watered meadows on the duke of Buccleuch's estate, in the above districts, was 415 English acres, says, that " irri gation was more frequently attended to in Scotland, be fore the general use of lime and marl. It extirpated broom and moss (fog) ; and prepared the soil for oats ; the grain, bowel er, was generally considered husky and late. There was no particular plan of watering ; the operation being conducted mostly in catch-work, and according to the form of the surface, and fancy of the operator.