FOREST PLANTATIONS. 385 



the feafon for burning, and other operations, 

 might be loft. It will be found a great means of 

 forwarding its preparation for burning, to crofs- 

 cut it, perhaps a fortnight after the firft plough- 

 ing ; only, the whole mould be dry at the time 

 of performing the crofs-ploughing. 



After the turf is dry enough for burning, the 

 furrows are to be lighted on the fide of the field 

 from which the wind is blowing ; and it is gene- 

 rally proper to wait till it blow from the moft 

 fteady point. The whole is to be attended to 

 during this operation ; and, when the progrefs of 

 the fire is impeded at any place, perhaps by a 

 damp fpot, it muft be lighted on the other fide. 

 So foon as the burning is over, and the heat a- 

 bated, the land mould be wrought like ordinary 

 fallow ; being, however, careful not to plough 

 too deep for the prefent. Before the winter ar- 

 rive, it mould be laid up in ridges, of fuch a 

 breadth as circumftances may require; and the 

 ridges mould lye in fuch a direction as to lay the 

 whole furface at leaft, as dry as poflible. 



Some furfaces anfwer better to be pared in au- 

 tumn or winter, and left with the earth fide ex- 

 pofed during frofts and rains : The crofs-cutting 

 of fuch is generally deferred till fummer, juft be- 

 fore the turf is to be burnt. Where the foil is 

 unfavourable for burning, this method will be 

 found of great ufe j becaufe the action of the 

 B b weather^ 



