3d, The danger of occasioning the rot among sheep has been mentioned as an objection to irrigation ; but this was done only by such as were not properly inform ed. For no person can state such an objection, who considers the facts,--that these meadows are all enclosed, with only an exception of one or two ; and that no sum mer watering is admitted on them, or any instance to be heard of sheep being seized with the rot, except one, when summer watering for once was tried.
4th, I have heard it alleged, that the hay of watered meadows is not wholesome food for horses ; that it breaks ( their wind ; and that a carrier rejects it on this account.
In reply to this allegation, it may be stated, that in stances arc given in the survey, of respectable persons having fed horses with such hay from their watered meadows as they judged proper to give them, without any detriment being sustained. If horses eat too gree dily even of corn, their wind must be broken ; and pe rennial red clover swells in the stomach, and might have produced a similar effect, when too liberally given. But at any rate, it may be asked, why raise an objection against the hay of these meadows on account of carriers' horses, for which that produce was certainly not intend ed? If it answer the sheep in the first instance, and the black cattle in the next, every objection of this sort is removed. The farmer who sells hay to carriers, may sell his hay of rye-grass and clover, and make use of that of his meadows.
In behalf of the system of watering, the following ar guments occur, which it is hoped will lie admitted to be well grounded, viz.
1st, There is an increase in the quantity of hay, which enables the farmer to sell part of it for money.
2d, if the farmer prefer wintering cattle, he may- sup port a greater number, or he may feed them in a more liberal manner. And in this district, in summer so fer tile in grass, and in winter so abounding in storms, this consideration is of Material importance, as a well win tered beast yields more net profit, than any two which have been poorly fed, in that inclement season.
3d, The additional hay raised, increases the quan tity of farm manure, the advantages of which are soon perceived in the superior produce of the manured crops.
4th, If an early growth of meadow-gras enables tile farmer to put in weak ewes during spring, he may find such a convenience of great value, for the preservation of the lambs.
5th, The pasturage of these meadows, after the hay is removed, is generally found to be so profitable, as to balance the original pasturage of the meadow grounds, throughout the year.
6t1i, To feed sheep, the hay of these 110 a.(101 in so Ely as it saves the expense of snow retreats; which, for these numerous stocks, are now hardly to be obtained.
7th, The risk is a more serious matter in silt h a case, than the expenses to be incurred ; and this risk is alwaN ubw fated to a certain extent, by means of the meadow hay. Should the storemast•r neither be aide to lind hay, nor to bespeak a retreat for his flock, what would he then gi\ e to obviate the risk of immediate lox, of aheep through famine, or of heavy losses in spring, occasioned by the reduction which want causes, in the health and condition of his flock ? It is far from absurd, to put sncli a case ; and every storemaster will admit the hazard. It
is to be wished that these dangerous emergencies should very seldom occur ; let not the prudent farmer, Low eve,., disregard them." We now conic to another branch of irrigation, pro vincially called warping, which is one of the grentes' improvements that can he exercised, adding to the value and thickness of the soil every tune it is repeated. In fact, a new soil is artificially created by the operation to be treated of, and of a quality superior to that oh' every natural one. It is only in certain situations, howeN ea, that warping can be used; but where such all opportu nity occurs, it ought never to be omitted. The expense varies according to situation, but can never in the slight est degree be compared with the immense benefit de rived from it.
Warping originated in Yorkshire, and is carried on there to a great extent, especially upon the banks of the river Ouse, between York and the Humber. When in that district, the writer of this article had an opportunity of examining and ascertaining the differ( nt branches of that valuable operation, all of which delighted loin much, as their effect was precisely the same upon a poor soil as those of the greatest natural value. The river Ouse, from the circumstance of its meek ing into its bed most of the Yorkshire waters, is constantly stored with mud and all sorts of alluvial matter; and these being stirred and kept in motion by the tide, which flows higher than Yolk, are conveyed over the adjoining grounds, which are flat and easily flooded. Embankments, however, are previously required before warping can be executed ; and these embankments are made of earth taken the land, and built w ith a slop• of three f.•et on each side for every perpendicular foot of rise. There are more or fewer openings in the banks according to the extent of ground proposed to be warped; but, in gene ral, two sluices are only necessary, one called the flqod gate to admit, the other called the dough to let off the water. When the spring tide begins to ebb, the flood gate is opened to admit the water, while the dough is kept close by the flow , or tide. As the tide ebbs down the river, the pressure upon the outside is take n from the dough, when the weight of water admitted by the flood-gate pushes open the dough, and is discharged slowly through it. The eloughs are so constructed, as to let the water run off between the ebb °Ione tide, and the flow of another ; and t..) this point part'eular attention is paid. The aae placed above the level of common titles, it being cedy the water of spring tides that is admitted.