286 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



the greater the advantage ; and if the furrow slices are set 

 partly or entirely on their edges there will be, as before in- 

 timated, more surface exposed than there would be if they 

 were laid perfectly flat. And if they were turned in such a 

 manner as to form an angle of forty-five degrees, the outer 

 edge of the furrow resting on the inner edge of that which 

 immediately preceded it, there would be but little chance for 

 the weeds or grass to grow up between the furrows, which 

 may be the case when the slices are set perpendicularly, or 

 nearly so, on their edges. There will likewise always be a 

 cavity under the edges of the furrow slices, containing stag- 

 nant and sometimes putrescent air, which will enrich the 

 soil. Moreover if ridge-ploughing is at all advantageous, we 

 cannot see why a mode of ploughing which makes a ridge 

 of every furrow slice, or at most a ridge by turning the edge 

 of one furrow slice on the edge of its immediate predecessor, 

 should not be likewise of advantage. Besides, by these 

 modes of ploughing you form a covered or open drain or 

 hollow place between the furrows, which, by carrying off 

 superfluous water, will render the soil fit for tillage earlier in 

 the spring than would be possible if every furrow slice was 

 laid flit as it was turned upside down. The harrow will 

 also more readily take hold of a soil where the furrow slices 

 form little ridges or protuberances, and thus a proper mould 

 will be procured for the covering of the seeds, or earthing up 

 plants in a growing crop. And if there is danger of the lands 

 lying too loose and hollow, repeated harrowing, and rolling 

 it with a heavy roller after sowing, will furnish a remedy. 



Dry sandy soils, such as ought not to be ploughed in 

 ridges, should be turned over completely, and be laid and 

 kept level as possible. Such soils, if rendered loose, and 

 laid light by cultiv^ation, will be robbed of their fertilizing 

 particles as well by rain as by sunshine. In other words, 

 they are liable to suffer by washing, by scorching, and by 

 too much draining. They do not need to be made any 

 lighter, by ' feather edged ploughinor,' or setting the furrow 

 slices edgewise, being too light under ordinary cultivation. 

 It is therefore ' a great advantage to such soils to fold sheep, 

 or to consume the crops of turnips upon the ground where 

 they ere raised. These practices greatly contribute to the 

 improvement of such soils, not only by the dung and urine 

 thus deposited, but by the consolidation and firmness of tex- 

 ture which the treading of sheep occasions. '"^ 



*Code of Agriculture. 



