StCt. I. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 145 



when lying north and south, the side of the 

 ridge towards the east is always less productive. 

 But this must be regulated by circumstances. 

 To give the ridge such a direction as will most 

 easily and most readily carry off the redundant 

 moisture, must be a first object ; and therefore, 

 if the direction recommended can be effected 

 consistently with this, it may be followed : but 

 if it cannot, then it must give way to the other, 

 which is of greater importance. Even on land 

 that is tolerably dry, I should suppose a direc- 

 tion east and west to be necessary, only when 

 the ridges have a considerable rise in the mid- 

 dle : for if the ground be level, or nearly so, 

 the easterly winds will bear equally upon every 

 part of the ridge, whatever its direction may be. 



The proper breadth of ridges must depend up- 

 on circumstances. If the ground, be quite dry, 

 they may be of almost any breadth, without af- 

 fecting the crop. In this case, liberty is given 

 to attend at once to neatness and economy. I 

 should think seven yards the most convenient 

 breadth with a view to both these objects. 

 Ridges of this size can be sown with two casts, 

 covered by three harrows at twice, and are most 

 convenient for four reapers in harvest. 



But if the soil be heavy and wettish, and with 

 such a declination as to permit the water easily 

 to pass off, I should be of opinion that 3- yards 

 would be the most proper breadth* In this way 

 the soil can be kept nearly at an uniform thick- 

 ness, and thereby all unevenness in the strength 

 of the crop prevented. The encreased number 

 of furrows, acting like so many distinct open 

 T 



