f 148 J 
In this cafe, he not only fuffers the lofs of his pro- 
perty, but is fure to be laughed at by all his neigh- 
bi irs, and even by his own labourers. 
In many of the light lands, where ploughing is 
very little required, unlefs to deftroy the weeds, Mr. 
Cooke's inftrument, called a fcuffler, which will 
clean five or fix acres of land per day, has been 
ufed with great fuccefs, and particularly prepara- 
tory to drilling. But this inftrument is not yet 
enough known, to be in general ufe. 
As to the proper depth of ploughing, Wiltfhire 
farmers are particularly cautious not to plough de- 
low the top foil. Wherever there is a vein of rubbly 
chalk, or fmall broken flints, immediately under 
the top foil, they look upon them to be literally 
“the drofs of the land;” and that, if they are 
ploughed up, they are “ poifon.” Many inftances 
are fhewn, where land of this kind ploughed too 
deep (frequently fingle acres in large tenantry fields) 
upwards of /zwenty years ago, has not yet recovered 
its former goodnefs. And to preferve this top foil 
as deep as poffible, the beft farmers will not permit 
the furface flints to be picked off for the roads, for 
fear of making the land both lighter and thinner. 
But in the /and veins, where there is a great depth 
of top foil, efpecially about Lavington, it is not, 
uncommon to plough very deep; and frequently 
have a fecond plough’ following in the furrow of 
the firft, fo as to throw up zew foil, and bury that 
which is fuppofed to be exhaufted. 
