Chap. XVI. O/Ridges. 253 



II. 3 Tis better protetled againft cold Winds ; becaufe 

 the Ridges are a Shelter to one another. 



III. If the Surface be much exhaujled, by too frequent 

 Sowing j the Ridges may be made juft where the 

 Furrows were> and then the Surface will be intirely 

 changed. 



The following general Rules ought to be obferved 

 about Ridges ; viz. 



That, as to their Height, regard mud: be had to 

 the Nature of the Soil, in its difficult AdmifTion of 

 Water ; for the greater that is, the greater Declivities 

 the Ridges fhould have; and then, if the Soil be not 

 deep, they fhould generally be made the narrower. 



There is one thing which Mr. Bradley takes no 

 notice of; viz. That no more of the Rain, or other 

 Benefits of the Atmofphere, which defcend perpen- 

 dicularly, can fall on an Hill, or on a Ridge, than 

 what would fall on the Bafe, or Ground-plot. But 

 'tis probable, that more of the fine Vapour, which 

 fwims in the Current of the Air horizontally, does flrike 

 and break againft thofe Eminences, and lb make an 

 Equivalent (b), except that it runs off more quickly. 



Notwithftanding all I have here faid, in behalf of 

 Ridges, I muft confefs, that, for my Hoeing-Huf- 

 bandry, I fhould prefer Land that is naturally dry 

 enough, without a Neceffity of being laid up in any 

 larger or higher Ridges than what may contain 

 Six Feet in Breadth (7), that Size being the largeft 

 that is proper for the regular Operation of the Horfe- 

 hoe. 



CHAR 



(b) But though Ridges do alter or increafe the Surface, the 

 Quantity of Soil or Earth remaining the fame as on the Level, 

 and of no greater Depth than can be tilled, it may produce equal 

 Crops of Corn with the Level, and no more ; except from the 

 Advantage the Ridges may give it in lying drier. 



(c) Since the Printing of my Eflay, 1 find, upon Trial, that 

 thefe narrow Ridges are as effectual as any for carrying the Water 

 off from my clayey Hill; and that they be made much lefs 



horizontal 



