FE& 3

AGRICULTURE AND HUSBANDRY.

Farms.--Arable farms in this County have not yet arrived to any monſtrous extent. As the land is moſtly occupied by ſmall proprietois and feuars, the farms are generally of an or- dinary ſize, giving a yearly rent from about 20l. to 1501. Sterling. Some few are belw and ſome above theſe ſums. The ordinary arable farms in the low diſtri& may extend from 40 to 200 acres, but the greater part of them nearer to 200 than to 40 3; the average may be 130 acres Scots, the only meaſure uſed in this county. In the hilly diſtricts, they are from I40 to 300, making the average about 220 acres. The farms, with few exceptions, are occupied by the owners themſelves z one indwidual occupies above 1000 acres, and a few others about 400 cach. Poſſeſlions of a moderate fige are here, and in all the adjoining diftri&s, juſtly preferred before ei- ther too ſmall or too large farms; but there are ſome ſmall farms, from 4 to 12 acres, and in ſome caſes 209. Theſe ſmall portions of land, here, and in moſt places of Scot- Jand, are called Pendicles, as depending upon either the pro- prietors of land, or the larger tenants from whom they are ſct oft, chiefly for ſervices or labour performed by the perſons who occupy them. Moſt of the tradeſmen reſiding in the country, whoſe mechanical labours are neceſlary for the cuſ- tomary work of the inhabitants, generally poſſeſs, if it can be obtained in the immediate vicinity of their habitations, as much ground as will ſuflice for maintaining a cow or two, or for growing potatoes- and lint. Theſe ſmall portions of land are not the worſt improved ground in the county. Every inch of them is commonly occupied, chiefly in green crops, which they are able to produce in plenty, as all the manure from the family,&c. is colle&ed and applied to them with the utmoſt care, They alſo afford a delightful, profit-

; able,