38 SIZE AND SHAPE OF FIELDS. 



disposed, as to reduce the fields to squares or oblongs, and 

 the fences to straight lines. 



Oblong Form. An intelligent correspondent is decidedly 

 of opinion, that all farms, more especially those of a light 

 soil, are best divided into oblong fields, because, when oc- 

 cupied either as a grazing, or a breeding farm, oblong 

 fields are so easily and simply subdivided, and water can 

 almost in every case be got, by making proper ponds, in 

 the meeting or joining of three or four fields, the gutters 

 or ditches of which fields will convey water to the ponds. 

 This is a great advantage in fields under a turnip crop, 

 as it is easier to cut off, or divide the turnips with hurdles 

 or flakes, or nets, &c., and the sheep can be fed off with 

 the greater convenience ; always keeping in view, to take 

 off a certain proportion of drills, for giving to the feeding 

 cattle in the sheds or folds, &c., or to sheep upon the ad- 

 joining stubbles or pastures, in proportion to the state the 

 ground is in ; land in a rich state having the greater pro- 

 portion taken away. Nor is it any objection to the oblong 

 shape, that the ridges may be too long, as that can be ea- 

 sily obviated by cross head-lands or head-ridges, which in 

 any soils can be made at any place, according to the length 

 of ridge most agreeable to the taste or opinion of the pro- 

 prietor or occupier.* Even where the land has a wet, damp, 

 or retentive subsoil, an oblong form may be advisable, for 

 the head-ridges can be made in those parts most suitable 



* On this subject it is remarked, that head-lands are never admissible, 

 except to get rid of wet, or in consequence of deviations of soil, and 

 hence a difference of culture ; and that ridges cannot be too long, where 

 land is inclosed, as it gives occasion to fewer turnings, and is ploughed 

 at less expence of time and labour. 



