21 



possible to have a part of these crops at regular dis- 

 tances *. 



9. Climate. The last circumstance on which the size 

 of a field ought to depend, is climate. In dry and cold 

 climates, small inclosures are desirable, on account of 

 shelter : whereas, in wet countries, the fields under cul- 

 ture cannot be too open and airy, for the purpose of 

 drying the ground, of bringing forward and ripening the 

 grain, and for enabling the farmer to secure it, during 

 any harvest, however unfavourable. 



We shall now proceed to make some observations on 

 the shape of fields, the form of which should be square, 

 and the soil, if possible, uniform. 



SOJJARE FORM. 



It is evident, that it is advantageous to have the fences 

 in straight lines, and that fields when large, should be 

 square, and when small, of an oblong square, so that the 

 ploughing may be dispatched with as few turnings as 

 possible. Some people, whose farms are of a waving or 

 uneven surface, and who inclose with hedge and ditch, 

 carry their ditch through the hollows or best soil, with 

 a view of raising a good hedge; thus, often sacrificing, 

 for the sake of the fence, the form of their field. A 

 straight line, however, is preferable, even though it 

 should be necessary to take some particular pains to en- 



* Remarks by Mr Brown, Cononsyth, by Arbrcatlw. 

 Another correspondent observes, that some extent is de- 

 sirable for fields in pasture, to attend the stock pasturing 

 over its surface; others; prefer small fields. 



