OF RIDGING. 1.59 



there happened to beany wind, (particularly a check-wind), 

 neither he, nor any one employed with him, could ever sow 

 a ridge of 1 8 feet, going once about, so as to give satisfac- 

 tion; hence he was induced to adopt ridges of 14 feet, to 

 prevent the seed from being unequally laid down. In Rox- 

 burghshire, however, they are more apt to be troubled by 

 wind, than in the flat districts on the sea-coast. 



Mr Wight of Ormiston, on wet soils, particularly thin 

 wet clays, upon a retentive subsoil, has always found a 

 ridge of 15 feet preferable to all other breadths. He is of 

 opinion, that it is as easy to keep it dry as one of 10 feet, 

 and easier than one of 18 ; that the furrows are not more 

 bared than the 10 feet, and not so much as those of an 18 

 feet ridge. The 15 feet can be sown at all times with once 

 going about, even when there happens to be a check-wind, 

 which is not the case with an 18 feet ridge. The narrow- 

 er one of 10 feet, will also require once going about, or up 

 and down, which is a considerable loss of time ; as the seeds- 

 man will sow equally well, in two-thirds of the time, a space 

 of 30 feet, contained in two 15 feet ridges, than is neces- 

 sary for sowing the same breadth contained in three 10 feet 

 ridges. An 18 feet ridge sometimes requires three casts, 

 which the 15 feet one never does. Two harrows, properly 

 constructed, completely cover the 15 feet ridge, once about. 

 If a field of 40 ridges, 15 feet broad each, require ten hours 

 to sow and harrow it, the same field, of 60 ridges, at 10 feet 

 broad, will requirQ fifteen hours for the same operations. 

 The 40 ridges will require 76 turnings of the sower and har- 

 rows, and 41 turnings of the water-fur plough. The 60 

 ridges will require 119 turnings of the sower and harrows, 

 and 60 turnings of the water-fur plough. Besides, in all the 

 other operations of the plough, one-third fewer feerings * 



* Peering is a provincial term, meaning that part of ploughing given ia 



