II. ’Tis better protected against cold Winds; because the Ridges are a Shelter to one another.
III. If the Surface be much exhausted, by too frequent Sowing, the Ridges may be made just where the Furrows were, and then the Surface will be intirely changed.
[223]To the Three we may add a Fourth Reason, viz. the raising the Thickness of the Staple in the Ridges, keeping the Surface drier in wet Weather, and moister at the Bottom of the Staple in dry Weather. And I have seen Barley that was drilled on my raised little Ridges flourish in a dry Summer on the Brow of my chalky Hill, and on my lowest Land in wet Weather, when the Barley hand-sown contiguous to it on each Side those Ridges, sown on the Level the same Day that the Ridges were drilled, have looked yellow and sickly; and yet it is not wet Land.
The following general Rules ought to be observed about Ridges; viz.
That, as to their Height, regard must be had to the Nature of the Soil, in its difficult Admission of Water; for the greater that is, the greater Declivities the Ridges should have; and then, if the Soil be not deep, they should generally be made the narrower.
There is one thing which Mr. Bradley takes no notice of; viz. That no more of the Rain, or other Benefits of the Atmosphere, which descend perpendicularly, can fall on an Hill, or on a Ridge, than what would fall on the Base, or Ground-plot. But ’tis probable, that more of the fine Vapour, which swims in the Current of the Air horizontally, does strike and break against those Eminences, and so make an Equivalent[224], except that it runs off more quickly.
[224]But though Ridges do alter or increase the Surface, the Quantity of Soil or Earth remaining the same as on the Level, and of no greater Depth than can be tilled, it may produce equal Crops of Corn with the Level, and no more; except from the Advantage the Ridges may give it in lying drier.
Notwithstanding all I have here said, in behalf of Ridges, I must confess, that, for my Hoeing-Husbandry, I should prefer Land that is naturally dry enough, without a Necessity of being laid up in any larger or higher Ridges than what may contain Six Feet in Breadth[225], that Size being the largest that is proper for the regular Operation of the Horse-hoe.
[225]Since the Printing of my Essay, I find, upon Trial, that these narrow Ridges are as effectual as any for carrying the Water off from my clayey Hill; and that they be made much less horizontal than broad Ridges, whereby their Furrows are the more easily turned upwards against the Declivity.
I have not tried any narrower Ridge than that of Six Feet upon this Hill: But I have had full Experience of Five-feet and of Four-feet Ridges upon other Land; and find that all Sizes of these narrow Ridges are very advantageous, even where the Crop is to be sown upon the Level; for fewer Furrows are necessary for the Tilling of an Acre, when ’tis kept in such Ridges, than in broad Lands; and after wet Weather the Ridges will be fit to be plowed much sooner than level Ground.