1813.] 



Agriculture in Berwickshire, 



263 



year, or every year that the field to which they helong is fallow. 

 They serve as channels for receiving and carrying off the super- 

 fluous moisture. 



Draining. — On entering upon a new lease, one of the first 

 improvements to which a judicious farmer directs his attention is 

 draining. This is considered as one of the most important^ 

 indeed the foundation of all other improvements ; for while a 

 field is soaked with water it is of very little use. The drains 

 which are most common are intended for carrying off the water 

 that lodges on the surface. Every hollow in a field, which is a 

 natural receptacle for rain, is carefully drained. Drains are 

 usually made three feet deep, where there is a sufficient declivity 

 to carry off the water. Some are made four, and even five feet 

 deep. When the ground is very fiat, it is sometimes impossible 

 to get them deeper than 2^ feet : but such shallow drains are 

 not effectual, unless filled within a foot of the surface with 

 stones. In all cases stones are preferred for filling drains : but 

 so many have already been made, that field stones are become 

 scarce. In this case old thorn hedges are cut over by the surface 

 of the ground. The stems of these are cut into lengths of one 

 foot and a half or two feet, if the drain be three feet deep. 

 These lengths are then put into the drain, not quite vertically, 

 but leaning upon one another. Where neither stones nor thorns 

 can be had, young firs, or branches of any kind of trees, are 

 employed. Next, the tops of the thorns are pressed in, and 

 covered with straw, or any substance that will prevent the earth 

 from falling down into the drain. Farmers are exceedingly 

 attentive to the filling of the drains, and generally watch the 

 workmen when employed in this operation. At present the 

 common wages for cutting a drain of three feet deep is from GcL 

 to Sd. for each rood of six yards ; 2d. each rood for cutting the 

 thorns ; and 2d. each rood for arranging them in the drain, and 

 covering them with earth. 



Ridges. — Respecting ridges, queries have been circulated to 

 ascertain what ought to be their length and breadth. As to the 

 length, that must evidently depend upon the size of the field 

 after inclosing ; and before inclosing, it will be influenced by a 

 variety of considerations, such as the form of the surface, its 

 situation respecting roads, the convenience of the farmers, &c. 

 and consequently cannot be determined as a general question. 

 Nay, in a fine free loam with a previous under-soil, ridges 

 are not absolutely necessary. They serve useful purposes, how- 

 ever, even in such a soil, to enable the farmer to subdivide in his 

 mind the field into acres, that he may manure and sow by caU 

 culation. But in land which has an impervious under-soil, 

 ridges are necessary; or in other words, open furrows are 

 required for receiving and carrying off' the ej^cess of rajn as it 



