Of Ploughing. 309 



means should be adopted, to extend a practical knowledge 

 of the art, in its greatest state of improvement ; and no plan 

 has been found more effectual for that purpose, than the 

 establishment of ploughing-matches, by which a spirit of com- 

 petition among ploughmen is excited, by rewarding those who 

 excel ( 3Z ). At such meetings, farmers have been instructed, 

 when they only came to be amused ; their prejudices have 

 worn away ; and they have been induced to try new instru- 

 ments of husbandry, and new modes of culture. Were it 

 possible to impress upon the minds of farmers in general, 

 the great importance of good ploughing, more especially 

 the advantages of using ploughs with two horses, and with- 

 out a driver, the expenses of cultivation would be greatly 

 diminished, and several millions in value, would be added, 

 to the produce of the United Kingdom ( 33 ). 



SECT. II. Of Ridging. 



THE next point to be considered is, the utility of having 

 the land divided into ridges, and where that is judged expe- 

 dient, the form in which they ought to be made. 



Dry soils being deficient in moisture, ought to be tilled 

 flat, as any sort of draining, which the furrows might afford, 

 would be prejudicial rather than advantageous. In Kent, 

 dry land, cultivated by the common turn-wrest plough, is 

 left as level as if it were dug with a spade. The moisture 

 is thus equally diffused, and retained under the surface of 

 the earth. This practice is likewise thought to be conve- 

 nient to the operations of the mower, (much of the crop 

 being there cut down by the scythe) : it is also favourable 

 for the conversion of arable land into grass ; and it effects 

 a considerable saving of labour ( 34 ). The plan of cultiva- 

 tion without ridges, is sometimes done, by going round and 

 round a hill, from the circumference to the centre, or from 

 the centre to the circumference. This mode requires little 

 more force than common ploughing : it is likewise an expe- 

 ditious mode, as there is no occasion for turning, and is eco- 

 nomical, as by it, every inch of the soil is moved ( 35 ). But 

 ridges are essential in wet soils and climates ( 36 ), operating 

 as open drains, without the assistance of which, the crops 

 would be rarely productive in rainy seasons. It is therefore, 

 of much importance to the farmer, to be fully master of the 

 rules, by which ridges can be formed to the best advantage. 

 These may be considered under the following heads : 1. The 



