OF RIDGING. 161 



many turnings and finishings : That if the land is wet, and 

 requires to be laid dry in winter, two gatherings, if judici- 

 ously ploughed, will lay the ridge high enough for throw- 

 ing off the water : That when sown, it can be accurately 

 done with two casts, even in windy weather, and that three 

 reapers, one man and two women, can work on it without 

 interruption : Indeed, where only two men are employed 

 by the piece, they universally agree in this particular, that 

 they work with more freedom, and can perform, they af- 

 firm, more work, than if three men were upon a ridge, as 

 each man cuts the precise half of it. In short, whether 

 upon a wet or a dry soil, it is maintained, that a 17 feet 

 ridge, is by far the best for ploughing, harrowing, sowing, 

 and reaping. 



Farmers, however, in general, on soils of a strong or 

 clayey nature, prefer ridges of 18 feet. This breadth they 

 consider to be the most advantageous for preventing wet, 

 and for dunging, sowing, harrowing, and reaping. In re- 

 gard to wet, there is a sufficient width to admit of a gentle 

 slope on each side, effected by twice gathering the soil 

 when ploughed, by means of which the surface-water soon 

 gets down into the furrow. The dung also can be easily 

 spread over the surface of such a ridge. As to sowing, it 

 may be done by two casts of the seedsman, unless in high 

 winds. A pair of well-made harrows cover the ridge at a 

 bout,* or once up and down the ridge, and three reapers 



* A farmer in Roxburghshire states, that his harrows will not com- 

 pletely cover more than 12, or at the utmost 14 feet, at once a bout ; and 

 that when lie harrows ridges of 14 feet, he is under the necessity of put- 

 ting on five harrows, otherwise the work would not be done to his mind. 

 The size of the harrows, at the same time, might certainly be enlarged; 

 and harrows of the size common in the Lothians, will completely cover 

 a 1 5 feet ridge, and do the work admirably. 



VOL. I. L 



