It is a very curious fact that many of these old “lands” take the form of a greatly elongated [Illustration:  (S backwards)], though not so pronounced as that figure, for the curves are only visible towards the ends, and these curves always turn to the left of anyone walking towards the end.  Various explanations have been given, and one by Lord Avebury is the nearest approach to a correct solution which I have seen, though not, I think, quite accurate.  My own idea is that, as the plough turns each furrow-slice only to the right, the beginning of the ridge would be accomplished by two furrows thrown together on the top of each other, and the remainder would be gathered around them by continuing the process, until the “land” was formed with an open furrow on each side.  The eight oxen would be harnessed in pairs, or the four horses tandem fashion.  When they reached the end of each furrow-slice, the plough-boy, walking on the near side, would have to turn the long team on the narrow headland, and in order to get room to reach a position for starting the next furrow-slice, he would have to bear to the left before commencing the actual turn.  In the meantime the horse next the plough would be completing the furrow-slice alone, and would, naturally, try to follow the other three horses towards the left, so that the furrow-slice at its end would slightly deviate from the straight line.  When the horses were all turned, the second furrow-slice would follow the error in the first, and the same deviation would occur at each end of the ploughing, gradually becoming more and more pronounced, until the curved form of each ridge became apparent.  Lord Avebury says that when the driver, walking on the near side, reached the end of each furrow, he found it easier to turn the team by pulling them round than by pushing them, thus accounting for the slight curvature.

The saying,

     “He that by the plough would thrive
     Himself must either hold or drive,”

is largely true, but only the small farmer can comply with it.  The man of many acres cannot restrict his presence to one field, and must adopt for his motto the equally true proverb, “The master’s eye does more than both his hands.”

The thrashing-machine is the ultimate test of the yield or cast of the wheat crop, and it seems to have something itself to say about it.  For when the straw is short the cast is generally good, and vice versa.  In the first case the machine runs evenly, and gives out a contented and cheerful hum, but in the second it remonstrates with intermittent grunts and groans.  Even when the yield is pretty good, the voice of the machine is not nearly so encouraging to the imaginative farmer, when prices are low, as when prices are up.