74 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



ftaple is iliallow, the roots, which cannot 

 pierce the hard ground below, mufl 

 fpread along its furface. In that polition, 

 they are drenched in water upon every 

 fevere fhower i and this moifture lies fo 

 near the furface, that it is immediately 

 fucked up in time of drought, and va- 

 niflies by evaporation. Thus it is, that 

 the excefles of drought and of moifture al- 

 ternately are the confequences of a Ilial- 

 low ftaple. A deep ftaple polTefles the 

 oppofite advantages. The moifture lod- 

 ges below the bulk of the roots, and be- 

 comes a refervoir, vi^hich fuppjies moi- 

 fture to the roots above, even during a 

 pretty long drought. 



Fourthly, In this country, I doubt whe- 

 ther, by ilialiow ploughing, winter-grain 

 can be fufhciently covered to prevent the 

 piercing froft. The feed ouglit not to 

 be laid at the bottom of the ftaple ; be- 

 caufe the hard ground below is very im- 

 proper to receive the tender roots. And 

 if it be laid any way near the cen- 

 ter of the ftaple, the earth above will 



not 



