OF RIDGING. 163 



forming the ridges, when the land has been cross-plough- 

 ed ; and it keeps more moisture in the land than ridges of 

 a less width. 



In regard to ridges of still wider dimensions, namely, 

 from 30 to 33 feet, as recommended by the celebrated 

 Arbuihnot, that subject, in so far as regards strong lands, 

 has been already discussed in a former part of this work, 

 (See Chap. I. Sect. V. p. 55, 56), to which the reader is 

 referred. 



It is objected to broad ridges, that a ridge twenty-four 

 paces wide, cannot be ploughed so soon by an hour as two 

 ridges twelve paces wide, because much loss of time is ex- 

 perienced, at each end of the field, from the plough having 

 to move so many yards out of its work, before it arrives at 

 its proper situation for re-entering again the land, whilst 

 little or no loss of time is experienced, in the plough and 

 horses swinging about to enter their work again, in a ridge 

 twelve paces wide. But Mr Kerr obviates this objection 

 by the following simple expedient : Supposing two broad 

 lands, say of 60 feet, marked out by the furrows ABC. 

 One ploughman begins along A, and ploughs the land, 

 always turning round the points A A, keeping his right 

 hand constantly to A A till he has ploughed 15 feet on each 

 side of the furrow to a a a a. The second ploughman has 

 been doing the same round B B, and the third round CC. 

 All now change their stations. The first takes the space 

 between a a and b b, keeping his right hand alternately to 

 BB and to A A. The second does the same between b'b' 

 and c c in the same way ; and so of the rest. In this man- 

 ner, there is no more travel in a 60 feet ridge than in one 

 of smaller dimensions.* 



* It has been remarked, that this method is the one actually adopted 

 in cross ploughing for fallows, and green crops ; and it is well known t 

 intelligent and experienced ploughmen. 



