| XXX | (58) | XXX |
58 A G R I C U L T U R E. middle or crown ; for the higher they are raifed, the tered. Every ridge is ploughed by itfelf; or the halves more is the furface enlarged. Howe-ver, if the foil be of two contiguous ridges may be ploughed together. By fhallow, the ridges (hould not be raifed high, as they de- this method, as the earth on each fide is turned upon the crown, and thrown up out of the furrows, the ridge prive the furrows of foil. But, in low flat-lying ground, the ridges flfould be muft be raifed higher. ft'iade flat, in order to raife the furrows ; for, in fome By cajling, the crowns and furrows are likewife kept cafes, the higher the furrows are raifed, it is the more in they- former pofition: The ridges are ploughed in eafy to find a fall for carrying off the v/ater. Flat pairs : The plough may enter in the furrow betwixt the ridges are alfo capable of being fown with greater ex- ridges, and plough out the ridges, turning the earth toaftnefs. wards the furrow where it entered; or, the plough may It is impracticable to give any general rule for laying enter in the furrov/ on the right fide of the two ridges, out ridges. In fome fituations, narrow ridges are pre- then turn to the One on the left, and plough out the ferable to broad ones ; in others, flat ridges are better ridges, turning the earth to thefe furrows, and from the than fteep ones, <bc. In laying out of ridges, therefore, furrow that is betwixt them. By this method of ploughevery perfon muft be determined in this point by the na- ing, the ridges are kept of the fame height in the crown, ture and fituation of the foil, and the advantages or and one of the furrows made a little higher, and the other a little lower than before. difadvantages of the different kinds of ridges. But, whatever be the nature or fituation of the foil, Cleaving is the reverfe of gathering. The plough the ridges fhould always be made flraight. Id plough- enters in the furrow on the right-fide of the ridge, turns ing crooked ridges, the cattle mud often go in a diffe- to the furrow on the left-fide, and ploughs out the rent direction from the plough, and are obliged to take ridge, turning the earth from the crown towards the furfhort turnings, which hurt the land by the treading of rows. Every ridge is ploughed by itfelf, or the halves the cattle. Befides, when the ridges are crooked, the of two contiguous ridges may be ploughed together. If fall for the water is diminished. In all foils too, the the ridge be raifed in the crown, this method of ploughridges fhould be made of the fame breadth throughout, ing makes it flatter, by throwing fome of it into the , and equal to one another. When they are unequal, it is furrows. difficult to fow them with exaCbnefs, or to alter them There is another method of ploughing ufed in fome when neceffary ; and the plough mud often turn in the places, called ribbing. This method is performed by middle of the ridge, which hurts the land by the tram- making furrows about two feet dirtant from each other. One half of the furface is untouched by the plough ; and pling of the cattle. the other half, which the plough turns up in making the furrows, is thrown on the top of what remains fart. The Of the Pofition of the Ridges. land may be ploughed in this manner1 either without reIt is a matter of fome confequence to know how gard to ridges, or the plough may be made to enter and ridges fhould be placed, fo as bed to anfwer the fituation turn, as in gathering, carting, or cleaving. This kind of ploughing is feldom practifed, but in the beginning of of the land. and upon land to be fown with barley, after two In lands that have a Hope, the ridges are commonly winter, additional clean ploughings. Although fome modern implaced in a draight line from the top to the bottom of provers condemned ribbing, it certainly has its ufes : the declivity. -When the declivity is gentle, this pofi- It keepshave the land dry ; the rain that falls is confined to tion is very proper, as it drains the land of water. But the furrows, from whence it is eafily carried off; it prowhen the declivity is great, this pofitiott allows the foil motes of the ftubble, and expofes a greater to be wafhed away by the rain ; and the quantity of foil part ofthetherotting foil to the influence of the air. carried off will always be in proportion to the violence with which the current runs: Hence, in a foil fituated in this manner, the ridges fhould be placed acrofs the de, Of Harrows. clivity, to prevent the foil from being carried down by the water. Making the ridges very narrow will, in a good The harrow is an inftrument employed for ftnoothing meafure, anfwer the fame purpofe'; however, it is not the furface after the land is ploughed. One horfe is fufficient to draw the harrow commonly ufed in Scotland. fo proper as placing them acrofs the declivity. When land is very dry, crofs ridges are alfo of great Sometimes two of them go a-breaft, and fometimes three. mfe; for they retain the water, and prevent the foil from When the furface is very rough, two are reckoned fufficient for the attention of one perfon : But when three being wafhed away. can be ufed, they make better work, and are nearly equal to two pair. Of ploughing in Ridges. There are feveral kinds of harrows ufed in Scotland. There are three different ways of ploughing in The common one is fo well known that it needs no defeription. ridges, viz. gathering, carting, and cleaving. By gathering, the crown and furrows of the ridge are When the land is rough, the harrows are apt to ftam, kept in the fame pofition in which they were before : and get a-top of each other. To prevent this, fome fix the plough begins in the crown, and plows out the ridge, pieces of crooked timber to the out-fide bulls that are little turning the earth towards the crown,, where it firft en- contiguous to one another, which, by ftretching a over.
