JAN.] THE MOLE PLOUGH. 3/ 



They imply a degree of wetness which would be 

 ruinous in tillage,, and as that wetness commonly 

 proceeds from powerful springs, much carting and 

 trampling could not be permitted after ploughing, 

 even in summer, without essential mischief. An- 

 other object in extensive works, especially on moors 

 upon the slopes of hills and in mountains, is the 

 union of draining and irrigation. The general 

 mouth of many drains may, in numerous cases, be 

 made the constant supply of a system of watering 

 the land below it. Till this is settled, the improver 

 is uncertain what land it will be advisable to break 

 up, and what otherwise to improve by water, for it 

 may be laid down almost as a maxim, that water, 

 where it can be had, should be tried with mere le- 

 velling before any other method be attempted. 

 Upon the high moors to the south of Paitely -bridge, 

 in Yorkshire, there are some remarkable instances 

 of small abandoned mill -courses having overflowed 

 the ling moor below them, and thereby destroyed 

 the ling, and established a large family of grasses^ 

 converting black into what they call white land, arid 

 which, though (like all the rest of the moors) in a 

 state of utter neglect (this accidental circumstance 

 excepted), would let, with a wall fence around it, 

 at 10s. an acre, instead of 6d. or gd. When the 

 effect of water is so remarkable, it is a proof that 

 not a drop should be lost, but that what comes from 

 the drains should be converted from an enemy inta 

 a friend. 



Jt is the practice of many farmers to chuse the 



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