Jan."] METHOD OF DITCHIN6* 20? 



of the ditch to the depth of the rut as he proceeds* 

 If the fward be in ley, it fhould be pared off as 

 thin as poffible, to the extent of one foot in 

 breadth, along the fide of the rut where the 

 bank is to lye. This is cleaning the scarsement 

 beforehand, and is done to prevent a rank growth 

 of herbage the following feafon. If the land in, 

 queftion has been in tillage the preceding feafon, 

 the operation of paring will be unneceflary. 



Having now fmifhed the above, run another 

 rut along by the line, on the fui face of what is af- 

 terwards to become the ditch, a foot from the 

 former rut. Go along, and notch the inner fpace 

 crofsxvife, keeping the fpade in one pofition, fo 

 as to form turfs of about a foot fquare. Begin at 

 one end, and turn thefe fods at one cafl of the 

 fpade, fo as they may be inverted with their edg- 

 es at the diftance of about nine inches from the 

 firft rut, which is now the face of the ditch, keep- 

 ing them exadly in line, and joined clofe to each 

 other : thus a fcarfement of about nine inches 

 broad will be formed. In light, fandy, or gravel- 

 ly lands, however, the fcarfement (hould not be 

 lefs than a foot broad ; as, otherwife, the brink 

 might crumble down, and leave the roots of the 

 plants too much expofed. Another row of fods 

 is now to be lifted from the fur face of the ditch, 

 and thrown at random beyond, but not away 

 from, the former. This is done to increafe the 



furfac* 



