DISCRETION. 141 



cretion. There is a right way and a wrong of traversing 

 every acre of ground that lies between them. On the 

 grass, we must avoid crossing high ridge-and-furrow in 

 a direct line ; rather let us take it obliquely, or, if the 

 field be not too large, go all the way rou.nd by the head- 

 land. For an unaccustomed horse there is nothing so 

 trying as those up-and-down efforts, that resemble the 

 lurches of a boat in a heavy sea. A very true-shaped 

 animal will learn to glide smoothly over them after a 

 season or two, but these inequalities of surface must 

 always be a tax on wind and muscular powers at best. 

 The easiest goer in ridge-and-furrow that we have yet 

 seen is a fox. Surely no other quadruped has nature 

 gifted with so much strength and symmetry in so small 

 a compass. 



Amongst the ploughs, though the fences are happily 

 easier, forethought and consideration are even more 

 required for ground. After much rain, do not enter a 

 turnip-field if you can help it, the large, frequent roots 

 loosen the soil, and your horse will go in up to his 

 hocks ; young wheat also it is well to avoid, if only 

 for reasons purely selfish; but on the fallows, when 

 you find a wet furrow, lying the right way, put on 

 steam, splash boldly ahead, and never leave it so long 

 as it serves you in your line. The same may be said 



