144 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. ViL 



ness, direction, or equality of breadth, in the 

 ridges, and the ground often scratched, rather 

 than ploughed. The great object of husbandry 

 is to encrease the quantity, and to improve the 

 quality, of the produce of the soil ; and the chief 

 art of husbandry is to reach that object, with the 

 least expence, in the shortest time, and with the 

 greatest possible effect. Nothing, I apprehend, 

 will contribute more effectually to this, than a 

 proper disposition of the ground, and a judici- 

 ous use of the plough. Without these, even 

 manure, however good in quality, or however 

 Hberally bestowed, will not avail. When land 

 is designed for cropping, or to be laid clown for 

 pasture, the ridges ought to be straighted, re- 

 duced to an equal breadth from end to end, and, 

 as far as soil and situation will allow, to be com- 

 pletely levelled. W T hen ridges are crooked, the 

 water cannot easily run off. Inequality of 

 breadth will occasion many unnecessary turn- 

 ings of the plough, and consequently much loss 

 of time. And when the middle of the ridge 

 is much elevated, the sides may be too much 

 bared of soil, and thereby rendered less produc- 

 tive. If the field lies on a gentle declivity, the 

 direction of the ridges Ought to be right up and 

 down. But if the declivity be very steep, the 

 direction should be neither right across, nor dU 

 rectly up and down, but slanting or oblique^ 

 This method will render the ploughing more 

 easy and expeditious, and, at the same time, 

 prevent the soil from being carried too rapidly 

 downwards, either by the plough or by water. 

 It has been recommended by some, to lay the 

 ridges in a direction from east to west, because 



