Of Ploughing. 307 



by hire, the contractor finds every thing, and charges on an 

 average 8s. per acre (**). 



The expense of ploughing in Scotland, from the diffe- 

 rence of soil, and the greater depth to which the operation 

 is carried on, is higher than in Norfolk. A ploughman, 

 with a good pair of horses, properly fed, including the ex- 

 pense of the plough, the harness, &c. must, on an average, 

 cost the farmer about L.I 15 per annum ; and deducting from 

 the year 52 Sundays, and allowing other 13 days to be lost 

 on different accounts, and supposing the team to be con- 

 stantly employed, the expense of ploughing one acre, ave- 

 raging the different states of the soil when ploughed, and 

 the different objects in view, cannot be estimated at less than 

 8s. 6d. and in many cases it exceeds that sum. 



By an experiment made in Oxfordshire, it appeared, that 

 with four horses, an acre could not be done under 14s. ( z3 ). 



In Derbyshire and Kent, the cost is from 12s. to 15s. 

 per acre (* 4 ), and in many cases, 17s. In the latter county, 

 from four to six horses are employed, to plough even a 

 loamy soil. 



But it is in Middlesex, where the most expensive system 

 of aration is carried on. There, four horses at length, at 

 14s. per day, a man at 2s. 6d., and a driver at Is., total 

 17s. 6d., plough so little, that the expense is estimated at 

 more than at 21s. per acre (* 5 ). 



Wherever only two horses have been employed to work 

 in a plough, the circumstances of the farmers have greatly 

 improved, owing to the expense of cultivation being so ma- 

 terially diminished. This ought to be a strong inducement, 

 with gentlemen of landed property, to introduce upon their 

 estates, the practice of ploughing with only two horses, and 

 of going two journeys a-day (* 6 ). The prohibition of long 

 teams, unless in particular cases, would not only be a real 

 improvement, but would ultimately produce, an increase in 

 the rent-rolls of those proprietors, who should establish so 

 useful a system ( z? ). 



11. Cross-Ploughing. 



Though ploughing must in general be lengthwise, yet 

 crossing the ridge is occasionally advantageous ; sometimes 

 to secure the complete stirring of the soil ; sometimes 

 to promote the intimate intermixture of the manure, after a 

 crop of drilled turnips ; and always, when the ground is 

 summer fallowed. The celebrated Tull recommended, not 



u 2 



