228 



OF PLOUGHING. 



The effect of short ridges, and consequently of frequent 

 turnings, is most strikingly, exemplified, in the following 

 table, drawn up by Mr Erskine of Mar, from actual expe- 

 riment : 



Thus it appears, when ridges are 78 yards in length, 

 that no less a space of time than four hours and thirty-nine 

 minutes is spent in turnings, in a journey of eight hours ; 

 whereas, when ridges are 274 yards long, one hour nine- 

 teen minutes is sufficient, in the same length of time. What 



in Norfolk, for various reasons, prefer having their furrow-slices full 

 eleven inches broad ; so that the quantity of the ground stirred, in the 

 same number of hours, worked by them, must be considerably more 

 than farmers in other districts can do, where the nature of the soil re- 

 quires to have the furrow-slice of a narrower breadth. I understand 

 that it is the practice in Norfolk, to allow four horses for each plough, 

 two for a journey of five hours in the forenoon, and two others for five 

 hours in the afternoon. This must greatly increase the expence of cul- 

 tivation. 



