20, NORFOLK. 1^ 



V. Laying-up plow-land. — For wheat, 

 the foil is ufualiy gathered up into very narrow 

 ridges : but for every other crop it is laid into 

 wide flat " warps," or beds of about ten paces 

 wide ; without any regard being had to the na- 

 ture of the fubfoil : which, notwithflanding it 

 is, in general, fufficiehtly abforbent to admit of 

 .this pradlice, is fometimes too retentive, and 

 coldi to admit of it with propriety. 



This kind of larid, however, feldoni occurs 

 in Norfolk ; and this circumftance may be a 

 good reafon why a Norfolk farmer is fo truly 

 helplefs on a wet cold-bottomed foil * ; and 

 may account, in fome meafure, for his generally 

 failing in his attempts to farm on any other foil 

 than that of his own country. 



The idea of gathering the foil into ridges, 

 and finking crofs-furrows for the purpofe of 

 getting rid of the furfacc-waterj is unknown to 

 iiim : if the fubfoil is not thirfty enough to 

 drink up the rain-Vv^ater as fall as it falls, it lies 

 upon the warps, or makes its Way acrofs them 

 in a channel of its own. 



This, however, even fuppofing the pradlice 

 to be without exceptions, is no heavy charge 



* For a ftiiking inftance, fee Mi n. 114. 



L z a^ainS: 



