184 



KALM S ENGLAND. 



ditches, for most of the arable fields were so laid out that 

 there was not more than 2 feet between the water-furrows. 

 The breadth of such a water-furrow was (as occasionally 

 measured) 9 inches to 1 foot, and the depth 6 to 9 

 inches. They were nearly always drawn from the hills 

 down the ploughed fields, that the water might have 

 [T. I. p. 184J free escape, but where the fields sloped 

 too much they were drawn parallel with the dales, and 

 not right down to the same for this reason, that a great 

 water-flood might not scour away the soil and crops. 



No acre-reins in the middle of the fields, but only 

 round about at the sides, near the hedges, but these reins 

 were nearly always overwhelmed with mosses, like the 

 worst of our moss-choked meadows. 



In some places the water-furrows were not so close 

 together, but the ploughed fields were laid out in broad- 

 land,* that is, in even and wide plots about 20 feet 

 between each furrow, or grip. The space between the 

 water-furrows was laid out in small ridges, or riggs, 

 ryggar, which are here called ' stitches,' which were 

 highest in the middle and sloped on both sides towards 

 the water furrow. 



Thus no balks of earth, inga balkar af jord, 

 appeared here, which would hinder the water from 

 flowing down into the furrows. 



Magra orter. 



Arid and sterile places also occur in England. 



We saw to-day between Cheshunt and Bell Bar a great 

 plain, yet not even, but having ridges and hollows, which 



* Broadland. On the chalk these broadlands run now, 1886, generally 

 20 yards, but sometimes 18 yards wide. Two I measured at Albury, Herts., 

 ran 56 feet and 58 feet. The " yards " are only stepped. On Grove Farm, 

 Ivinghoe Aston, two adjoining old curved ridges were 62 and 48 feet wide. 

 Sep. 21. 1886. []■ L -] 



