n 6 Of Ridges. Chap. XVI, 



alter their old Method (a) ; no, not even to try the 

 Experiment ; but ftill complain their Gronnd is fo 

 wet and fpewy, that it brings them little or no Pro- 

 fit; and if the Year prove moid, they are great Lofers 

 by fowing it (£). 



(a) But fome of late are convinced, by obferving that an Hill 

 of mine has been made dry by this means for Fourteen Years 

 paft, which before was always more wet and fpewy than any 

 Field in the Neighbourhood ; and from the time of inclofmg it 

 out of an Heath (or Common), and the converting it to arable, 

 which was about Seventy Years ago, it had been reputed as little 

 better than barren, on account of its Wetnefs ; and that it has 

 been the moft profitable Field of my Farm ever fmce it has been 

 under this new Management. I have alfo another Field, that lies 

 about a Mile and an half from me : It doth not belong to the 

 Farm where I live, but was thrown upon my Hands, no Tenant 

 caring to rent it, becaufe great Part of it was full of Springs, and 

 barren ; This alfo, having been kept in Lands plowed crofs the; 

 Defcent (which is but a fmall Declivity), is become dry: And 

 now the moil prejudiced Farmers agree, that keeping the Lands 

 or Ridges of wet Ground always crofs the Defcent doth cure its 

 Spewinefs. Hereupon fome have attempted to put this Method 

 in Practice on their wet Land ; and, after it has been well tilled 

 up Hi 1 and down, have plowed itthelaft time for fowing of Wheat 

 in flat Lands crofs the Defcent ; but by Mifmanagement their 

 Furrows are higher at each End than the Middle, fo that none 

 of the Water can run oft* either downwards or lideways, or any 

 other Way. 



Had the Furrows carried off the Water at both or either of 

 their Ends, it might have been effectual, notwithflanding the 

 broad Lands, becaufe their Ground hath a much lefs Declivity, 

 and is much lefs fpewy, than my Hill was : They will doubtlefs 

 find their Miftake, and amend it, having a Precedent before their 

 Eyes ; but if they had none within their own Infpeftion, I que- 

 flion whether this IvJifnanagement might not difcourage them 

 from profecating their Project any further. 



[b, Remember, in making Pvidges of ail Sorts, and of whaN 

 foever Figure the Piece is, that no Ridge ought to have any more 

 Furrows at one End, than at the other End ; for if there be, the 

 Plough muft be turned in the Middle of the Piece, which will 

 caufe the Land to be trodden by the Horfes ; but if each End have 

 an equal Number of Furrows, the Horfes in turning will tread 

 only upon the Head lands, which may be plowed afterwards ; or 

 if delign'd to be Horfe-ho*d, the Head-lands ihould be narrow, 

 and not plowed at all. 



The. 



