34 



ing the ridge. The height, however, should not be too 

 great, only sufficient to furnish a declivity to let off the 

 Crater; for when the crown is raised too high, one -half 

 of the ridge is always covered from the sun, (a disad- 

 vantage which is far from being slight in a cold climate), 

 and the crop, which is always best on the crown, is more 

 easily shaken by the wind, than where the whole crop is 

 of an equal height *. Nothing can be more absurd than 

 an idea entertained by some speculative agriculturists, 

 that the higher the ridge is raised, the more surface must 

 be obtained, and consequently the greater crop. Some 

 planters had a notion that more trees could be planted 

 on a hill than on a plain of the same extent, which is now 

 given up as ridiculous. In regard to arable culture, it can 

 hardly be questioned, that the more the equality of soil, 

 (which cannot happen where the ridges are high raised), 

 the more equal will be the crop, and the more abundant 

 will be the produce f. 



5. Line of Direction. 



The last point regarding ridges, which it is necessary 

 to consider, is the line of direction, more especially in 

 steep grounds* In such situations, it has been found a 

 great advantage, both for the facility of ploughing and 

 for draining, to plough diagonally from left to right : the 

 furrow going up the hill falls off from the plough, the 

 horse has better footing, and less pull, and the furrow 

 catches the running springs t- This is particularly to be 



* See Gentleman Farmer, p. 74. 



. 

 t Remark by Mr Charles Alexander, Easterhaprew. 



if Remarks by Mr Stewart of Hillhead. 



