OF RIDGIN&. 167 



not be too great, only sufficient to furnish a declivity to let 

 off the water ; for when the crown is raised too high, one 

 half of the ridge is always covered from the sun, (a disad- 

 vantage which is far from being slight in a cold climate), 

 and the crop, which is always best on the crown, is more 

 easily shaken by the wind, than where the whole crop is of 

 an equal height.* In arable culture, the more the equality 

 of the soil, (which cannot happen where the ridges are high 

 raised), the more equal will be the crop, and the more 

 abundant will be the produce.f 



5. Line of Direction. The last point regarding ridges, 

 which it is necessary to consider, is, the line of direction, 

 more especially in steep grounds. In such situations, it 

 has been found a great advantage, both for the facility of 

 ploughing and for draining, to plough diagonally from 

 left to right ; the furrow going up the hill, falls off from 

 the plough, the horse has better footing, and less pull, and 

 the furrow catches the running springs.:}: This is particu- 

 larly to be attended to in the case of drilled turnips ; for 

 owing to the many furrows between the drills, when the 

 turnips are eaten off by sheep, not only the soil, but their 

 dung and urine, are carried off, which greatly augments 

 the evil. Besides, where the field is steep, the dung for the 

 turnips can be much easier carted on diagonal ridges.^ 



In regard to steep banks or declivities, there are four 

 modes in which the ridges may be laid out. 



* Gentleman Farmer, p. 74. 



f Remark by Mr Charles Alexander, Easterhaprew. It is a great 

 disadvantage, when ridges are too much rounded, that the sun cannot 

 act equally upon the crop. 



J Remarks by Mr Stewart of Hillside. 



Remark by Mr Charles Alexander. 



