240 On Paring and Burning. 



culiar to this operation are, The fen-plough ; The breast- 

 plough ; The cobbing-hoe ; and, The prong-spade. 



The fen-plough has been already briefly described, (Chap. 

 II. Sect. 7). In regard to the breast-plough, or paring 

 shovel, it is calculated to be worked by men. The upper 

 partis made of wood, with a share of iron, with which the 

 sod is cut. This instrument is pushed on by means of a 

 hilt at the top ; the labour is excessive, but a good hand 

 will pare about an acre in a week, or rather more, if the 

 work be smooth, and free from impediments ( Z9<5 ). The 

 cobbing-hoe, (ecobue), is a French tool for cutting and rais- 

 ing up pieces of turf, growing on coarse and rough lands, 

 which cannot be pared by the common breast-plough. 

 The prong-spade, is a tool in the shape of the common spade, 

 but with three or four prongs instead of a plate. It is used 

 for digging the turf on the sides of waste-banks, &c. where 

 the soil is too full of flints or stones, to admit readily the 

 common, or plate-spade. It enters the ground with much 

 less labour than the common spade, and raises the turf 

 equally well (* 97 ). 



The common plough is also frequently made use of, and, 

 in many situations, it is the best instrument for the purpose ; 

 particularly when, instead of the usual share, it is equipped 

 with a paring-spade. By using it, the business proceeds with 

 greater dispatch, and is attended with less expense in the 

 previous cuttings, though by this mode it costs more for 

 burning ; but then a greater quantity of the soil is pulve- 

 rized, and prepared for the ensuing crops, than when the 

 breast-plough is employed ( 398 ). 



Where the plough is used, and the soil is a peat-moss, the 

 horses must often be accommodated with wooden pattens ; a 

 particular description of which, with engravings, is given in 

 the Communications to the Board of Agriculture ( a "). In 

 the fen districts, particular attention is paid, to have horses 

 with broad hoofs, that they may be enabled to tread the soft 

 soil with more safety. By their going unshod for some time, 

 broad hoofs are acquired. 



3. The Depth. The usual depths are, from about one to 

 six inches ( 3 ). In shallow soils the turf cannot be too thin. 

 In Devonshire indeed, they endeavour, by cutting them in 

 small pieces, and driving them about by harrows, to shake 

 out the earth, and to leave nothing but the grasses and their 

 roots to burn. Two inches are generally thought sufficient; 

 but the late Mr Wilkes of Measham, in Derbyshire, fre- 

 quently ploughed old, rough pastures, eight or nine inches 



