134 AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE.
Broad ridges are used where water is not abundant at
all times, and the ground free from marshy spots, but
commanding little fall. Where these peculiarities of site
and command of water are observed, the yield of a water-
meadow on an average is the same in all three systems of
laying down. The first cut is made about Midsummer,
and on good soils gives 3 tons of excellent hay to the
morgen, or 4⅜ tons to the acre. The after-grass yields
about half as much. On average soils the yield may be
estimated for the neighbourhood of Siegen at 3 tons to
3⅛ tons per acre. With retentive subsoils the meadows
yield below the average. It is customary in autumn to
drive the cows on the meadows, their weight being sup-
posed useful in treading down the surface, which has a
constant tendency to swell and grow over the level of
the irrigating canals. These meadows furnish in autumn
pasturage, and in summer the cows are driven into the
u Hauberg.” In the morning and evening some green
fodder is given them in the stables. In winter hay,
straw, and chaff, mixed up and boiled with potatoes, car-
rots, or beatroot, form the usual fodder.
Terraced Meadows.
In the meadow that is destined to be laid down on the
terrace plan, the water-course being carried over the
highest part, the level of the distributing canal must be
marked by a stake driven near the centre. Another stake
driven at the lowest extremity of the field must mark
the level of the draining conduit—the terraced meadow
being supposed to have a breadth of 6 Prussian roods of
10 feet, and is divided into 4 beds each 1⅜ rood in
breadth. The channels, laid parallel to the distributing
AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE.
135
channel, are supplied with water from the distributing
canal by means of transversal cuttings. It may seem
simpler to let the water at once run over the whole
surface from the distributing canal ; but experience has
shown that the richest grass springs nearest to the
canals, although the reason why there should be a dif-
ference where there is water enough to flood the whole
surface is not very apparent. By increasing the number
of canals the fertilising principle is more equally distri-
buted, and terraces of 6 roods in length by If in breadth
are found to be the most advantageous size for ensuring
the best yield of grass. If the level of the beds be found
after a few years’ w,atering to be raised too much, the
canals can each be carried a foot or two higher up the
slope, the old cuttings being closed and covered with the
turf taken out of the new ones.
The sluice cuttings in the dam of the upper water-
course are 5 inches wide, and their bottom is sloped,
being at the upper end 6 inches higher than the level
of the chief water-course. The irrigating canals are
5 inches broad and 4 inches deep. The transversal cut-
tings are of the same dimensions.
Irrigation by means of narrow Ridges.
In a meadow irrigated on the system of narrow ridges,
the water-course, with the Sluice-Cuttingsthrough its dam,
are the same as in the terraced meadows. The distri-
buting canal is kept horizontal, and is 1⅜ foot bɪoad and
5 inches deep. The meadow is measured and divided
into equal portions, the best size for which is between
15 and 25 feet. Each bed or ridge is supposed to have a