SIZE AND SHAPE OF FIELDS. 35 



horses in the spring season, a field of that size, can always 

 be finished in four days.* In regard to the live stock not 

 employed in the culture of the farm, it is well known, that 

 cattle feed better in small numbers, than in great herds. 



5. Water. It is necessary in every field actually to be 

 pastured, to have a supply of water, the command of which 

 is more likely to be obtained in large, than in small inclo- 

 sures. A correspondent, whose fields are small, complains 

 of their being so ill-watered, that the stock, when pastured 

 in some of them, cannot get a supply, even in winter. 



6. Roads. It is essential that each field should have con- 

 venient access to the farm-road ; so obvious a point need 

 not be dwelt upon. 



7. Elevation of the Ground. It is also evident, that the 

 size of the field, ought in some respects to depend on the flat- 

 ness or elevation of the ground. Even on dry land, if there 

 is a rise on the ground, from fifteen to twenty chains is 

 length sufficient; for where the ridge is longer, the horses 



* Remarks by Mr Peter Mitchell in Stirlingshire, and Mr James 

 Cuthbertson in East Lothian. On this subject, Dr Young of Stone- 

 haven justly observes, that the fields should be of such a size, as to 

 admit the operations going on upon them, to be finished in a short time, 

 by the stock on the farm. If the fields are of too great an extent, in 

 proportion to the stock kept, a considerable interval must occur between 

 the sowing of the first and last part, especially of barley and big, where 

 generally the last ploughing and sowing take place together ; and it will 

 in general be desirable, to have the whole fields cleared at once, in har- 

 vest There will also be a saving of labour, particularly in the instance 

 of harrowing a crop in seed-time; as, in ordinary sizes of fields, the 

 sowing can be soon accomplished ; by which the frequent turnings are 

 avoided, that would otherwise take place, if it were necessary to sow 

 the field in several portions. Whenever rolling is required, whether for 

 grass seeds, for reducing the ground, or any other purpose, much of its 

 benefit may be lost, in an extensive field, because, being usually done 

 across, it cannot well be accomplished till the field is completed. 



