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In February, the management is much the same as in January;only, if it be without frost, the water will require to be taken oft'or changed more frequently, as, about the end of this month, ifthe weather be mild or sun-shiny, the scum will begin to makeits appearance again, if the water be continued too long on oneplace at a time, i. e. more than about two weeks. The Plans ofthe meadows that I have given, show, by divisions, how the wa-ter may be removed alternately from one to the other throughthe floating season.
In March, as the vegetation sets in, care must be taken toshelter the young grass as far as possible; and when the water ischanged or removed, a mild day must be chosen for it; and itis best to do it in the morning, that the ground from whence itis removed may be dry ere night, which enables it to stand afrosty night the better. In this month, scum must be guardedagainst as much as possible ; but, instead of changing the waterat stated times, it should be done according to the weather, al-ways taking the advantage of a good day, which may vary thetime from a week to once in a few days, less or more.
In the month of April, the water is used more sparingly, andchanged more frequently, as the month advances, and the grassgets up. The same rules and cautions are to be observed in thismonth, in changing the water, as are recommended in March-In this month water is of great advantage in sheltering the grassfrom the cold winds, night frosts, &c.
Month of May .—In the beginning of this month, as the wea-ther becomes warm, the water must be used more sparingly, andfrequently changed ; once in a week at least: and towards theend of it, the water should be changed or taken off once everythree or four days, always observing to take a good day for it,and to do it in the morning, as before recommended. By theend of this month, or the first day of June, the grass will be sofar advanced, as to need no more water for the season; and atthat time, when the water is taken off the meadow altogether,the meadow should be made completely dry, by opening all theapertures in the feeders that communicate with the drains, asshown on Plate II.
N. B. Through all the season, the engendering of scum (as Isaid before) must be guarded against, particularly in April andMay. This scum shows itself first in the following way :—Whenthe water hath run too long on one place, i. e. five or six weekswithout intermission, a brownish green substance will be seen ad-hering to the grass and its stools, and floating or moving with thewater like a hairy kind of wool, which, if not checked by re-moving the water, will soon turn thicker and greener, and lastlyinto a white scum, which, when dry, will adhere to the grass likeold rags or paper : The first appearance of this scum is precededby air bubbles on the water ; and if the water is removed when.Ibese appear, the scum will be prevented,