252 Of Ridges. Chap XVI. 



whatever be their Method of Growth above the 

 Earth-, and if there be not a due Quantity of Food 

 for the Roots within the Earth, a very little Space 

 may contain the external Parts of Vegetables upon it. 



From what has been faid, I think we may conclude, 

 that Mr. Bradley's Hill may produce more Vegeta- 

 bles than the Bale whereon it ftands; and therefore 

 it is of more Value than half its fuperficial Meafure ; 

 t. e. Two Acres on the Hill are worth more than one 

 Acre on the Plain, the Soil being equally rich, as he 

 allows it to be, in his Cafe. 



Now, indeed, whether Mr. Bradley might not 

 poflibly be deceived in his Opinion of the equal 

 Richnefs of his Hill, and his Plain, I will notdifpute: 

 I will only fay this, that 'tis generally otherwife. 

 But where a Plain is plow'd up into moderate Ridges, 

 their Height being in proportion to the Depth of 

 the Staple, below which the Plough muft take nothing 

 into the Ridges, the Soil is equally rich, whether it be 

 plowed plain, or ridged up. And as the Surface is in 

 the Ridges increafed, there is nothing in all Mr. 

 Bradley's Arguments, that fhews, why that increafed 

 Surface ihould not produce more Vegetables than the 

 fame Earth could do whilft it was level. 



There are other Reafons why it fhould produce 

 more when ridged (a), befides the Increafe of Sur- 

 face i as, 



I. 9 Tis then more free from the Injuries of too 

 much Water, 



(a) To the Three we may add a Fourth Reafon, vix. the 

 railing the Thicknefs of the Staple in the Ridges, keeping the 

 Surface drier in wet Weather, and moifter at the Bottom of the 

 Staple in dry Weather. And I have feen Barley that was drilled 

 on my raifed little Ridges flourifh in a dry Summer on the Brow 

 of my chalky Hill, and on my lowed Land in wet Weather, 

 when the Barley hand-fown contiguous to it on each Side thofe 

 Ridges, fown on the Level the fame Day that the Ridges were 

 drilled, have looked yellow and ficklyj and yet it is not wet 

 Land. 



ii 



