146 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF cbap. 711. 



drains, will contribute greatly to dry the ground. 

 These ridges, as well as those on the dry ground 

 before mentioned, ought to be cloven every time 

 they are tilled. And, in this last case, particular 

 care should be taken to prevent any hollow a- 

 long the middle of the ridge. For this purpose, 

 let the two furrows that are to form the crown 

 of the ridge be first tilled ; and, in tilling the se- 

 cond of these, let the right hand horse go in 

 the first made furrow : this will bring them 

 close together, and raise them to a proper height. 

 But if it shall happen that this heavy damp land 

 has little declivity for carrying off the surface- 

 water, it may be necessary, in order to make 

 and keep it dry, to give the ridges a greater 

 breadth, that thereby an opportunity may be 

 afforded for deepening the interjacent furrows, 

 and raising the ridges by an accumulation of 

 soil. In this case seven yards may be a com- 

 petent breadth : and in ploughing such ridges, 

 they ought to be cloven the first year, gathered 

 the second, and cast the next two years in suc- 

 cession. The reason for casting them two years 

 in succession is, that by the operation of cast- 

 ing, two ridges are always brought nearer, and 

 two more widely separated alternately over the 

 field. By casting again, the succeeding year, 

 the soil is brought back to its proper place. 

 When ridges are gathered or cast the second 

 time, the land is in the most convenient state 

 to be sown out for hay or pasture. 



