32 SIZE AND SHAPE OF FIELDS. 



2. The Nature of the Soil and Subsoil. The best si2e of 

 fields for arable cultivation, must always depend upon the 

 nature of the soil and subsoil. When the soil is chiefly dry, 

 it is of consequence to have the fields large, as it tends to 

 accelerate the ploughing, harrowing, reaping, &c. ; but 

 when it happens to be strong clay, it then becomes a mat- 

 ter of prudence, to contract the size of the fields, chiefly for 

 the purpose of keeping them as dry as possible.* In di- 

 viding a farm, however, it is proper to separate the light 

 and the heavy soil. They are not only better calculated 

 for different crops and different rotations, but are fit to be 

 wrought at different seasons. It is a fortunate circumstance, 

 when a farmer possesses as much ground of each kind, as 

 will make a full rotation, so that both may be carried on at 

 the same time. In turnip soils, the following plan has been 

 recommended by Mr Carnegie of Hailes, in East Lothian. 

 Where the farm would admit of it, he would divide the 

 whole into eight fields of thirty acres each, under a rota- 

 tion of, 1. Turnip; 2. Wheat and Barley; 3. Grass; and 

 4-. Oats : and he would have two breaks or divisions in each 

 field, one half, (or fifteen acres) of the inclosure in turnips, 

 and the other in grass ; and when ready to consume the 

 turnips, he would strip one half of them, and give them to 

 the sheep on the grass : He would then move back the 

 flakes or hurdles, and would allow the remaining half to 

 be consumed on the ground, with liberty to the sheep, to 

 pasture over the whole grass, while eating the turnips, 

 taking care never to give the stock more than a certain 

 number of days' turnips at a time. Thus there would be 



* Remarks by Mr Rennie of Kimblethmont, 



