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GENERAL VIEW
OF THE DEE ECD ETURGEF
OF THE COUNTY OF
ETI 1RHLI1IXNC.

+41

045
GENERAL VIEW
OLPE NICHE
BGRICVULTURE
OF THE COUNTY OF
SFT LDL LNC,
WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.
PREPARED BY
R. BELSCHEPS?/Es0.
OF GREENYARDS, IN THAT COUNTY«
DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD QF AGRICULTURE
AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT»
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY ADAM NEILL AND COMPANY;
M.DCC.SCVT,

«mme weer<->
TO IHE READER,
I 15 Geauelted, hat ims Paper may be retirned to the Board of, Agriculture, at its Office in London, with any ad- ditional remarks and obſervations which may occur on the
[]
peruſal, written on the margin, as ſoon as may be convenient.
It is hardly neceflary to add, that the Board does not con- ſider itſelf reſponſible for any fa& or obſervation contained 111 Unis R ePOLt, WILLICH ab preſent 15 PENtCd and Cireulated for the purpoſe merely of procuring farther information reſpedt- ing the huſbandry of this diftri&t, and of enabling every ong
to contribute his mite to the improvement of the country.
The Board has adopted the ſame plan in regard to atl the other counties in the united kingdom; and will be happy to give every aſliſtance in its power, to any perſon who may be deſirous of improving his breed of cattle, ſheep,&c. or of trying any uſeful experiment in huſbandry.
London, Sept. 25. 1796.

<<<;

TO
Sir JOHN SINCLAIR, Bart.
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, 8&&c.&c.&c.
YOU are diſpleaſed, my good Friend, that I have not brought forward the Stirlingſhire Report ſomewhat ear- ier.-L believe, though.I parried your duns from time to time, I never aſligned the real cauſe of delay, which
I am now about to ſerve up to you.
There is no accurate Survey of our County;--ſeveral have been made, but every one of"em incorredt, and that to a degree which is aſtoniſfhing: One whole pa- riſlh, and ſeveral large fragments of others, are marked as attached to the neighbouring ſhires. The trouble which theſe errors haye occaſioned to me, has been paſt deſcription. About three years ago, when you firf aſk'd me to undertake this taſk, I had hopes, that before
the time neceſſary for preſenting the Report to the pu- blic,

: 0 we
blic, a complete and accurate Survey of the County might have been finiſhed;-- but I am diſappointed. The beſt pradical engineer(acting as a ſurveyor) in the iſland, reſides at Stirling 3; I mean Captain JouN WIiL- 50N, whoſe talents are much beyond my Draue."EHEe was perfedly willing to engage in this work; for which purpoſe I ſet on foot a ſabſcription. Several proprietors put their names to it in a Very liberal manner; yet(O backward has the greateſt part of the perſons intereſted
been, that I dare ſay, at this moment, not one-third of
the ſum neceſlary to ſet this uſeful work a-golng, has
been ſigned for. I wifh the Lairds wou'd awake from their Qumbers, and conſider the importance of the un-
dertaking.
The want of an explanatory ſketch will be nowhere more ſeverely felt than in reviewing the“ ſtate of agri- « culture of the county of Stirling:*? In no fituation was it perhaps ſo neceſlary to delineate and diſtinguiſh the various ſolls. Carſe, Dry field, Green päſture, Dry moors, and Peat-moſſes, are the diviſions which ought to be marked; but this I have not dared to do, for the rea:
fon above ſtated.
One

1 vr.
One thing more:-=-I told you, my Friend, that I ſhould not allow my name to ſfand upon the 7:7t/e-page; being convinced, by the reception of preceding Reports, that a Gentleman might /o/? much reputation by ſending forth a compilation of this nature, but cou'd gan very Adieu.
little.--I have altered my intention however.
Yours obediently, September 20, 1796. j
R. PB.

COR R T1.GE ND
. line 3. for“ Bellwell read“ Bellwill" .= 24. after“ cattle," r.“ cloth,"
int 22» MCF: SSB ISE ZIEHE OO/SE7,
-- 25, and 26. for“ A ſmall portion of Carſe-lands has" 1.“ A few portions “« of Carſe-lands have"
.= 19. dele the ſecond“ now"
.== 27. and 28. for 4“ middle of March, or beginning of April 32 75% tbe
« months of February and March;"
.== 24. for“ firlot, or buſhel." 7.“ boll, conſiſting of four firlots or buſhels."*
=== 16. Ot STOUT E84
-- 21. for“ canon" r.“ cannon"?
NZ OE T=:
BY the term“ Acres" is conſtantly meant“ Scotch Acres," of which four are equal
to five Erg/7ſh acres

STIRLINGSHIRE.
=<=zutüööliiin- DD ua üRt ESER
SITUATION AND EXTENT.
ÖÖITIRLING,(anciently Stryveling or Striveling) 18 ſitua- ted from 559% 56/ to 569 16/ north latitude, and from 3% 30' to 4% 14/ weſt longitude. It is bounded on the north by Perthſhire; on the eaſt by Linlithgowſhire; on the ſouth by the counties of Lanark and Dunbarton; which laſt alſo bounds it on the weſt. The greateſt length from eaſt to weſt is about 49 miles; and the greateſt breadth from ſouth to north 23; but the medium length may be 44, and breadth 16 miles. According fo this calculation it contains 704 ſquare miles, being 4 50,560 acres Engliſh, or 358,336 acres Scotch, the only land meaſure uſed in the county.
The general appearance is greatly diverſified by rivers, mountains, woods and vallies, variouſly arranged, and ex- hibiting, in many ftriking points of light, a great number of views extremely pleaſing and piureſque. The variety 25 well as the richneßs of the proſpe&, is not a little 1in- ereaſed by ancient towns and proſpering villages appearing, in various forms, amidſt fertile fields; their buſtling ſcenes making an agreeable contraſt with the more tranquil ope- rations of huſbandry.
The county is ſubdivided into the following pariſhes, vz. Buchanan, Drymen, Kippen, Gargunnock, Balfrone, Killearn, Fintry, Campfie, Strathblane, Baldernock, New Kilpatrick, Denny, St Ninijan's, Stirling, Kilſyth, Falkirk, Slamanan, Muiravonſide, Polmont, Bothkennar, Airth, Larbert and Dunnipace, Logie, Lecropt, Alva. Part,-how- ever, of a few of theſe, as Kippen and New Kilpatrick,
belong to other counties.
B RIVERS.
For Remarks and additional Obſervations.

RIVERS.
The principal rivers are the Forth, Carron, Enrick, Blane, Kelvin and Bannockburn.--The Forth, taking its riſe from ſprings colle&ed among the Grampian mountains, meanders in the moſt fanciful windings through ſeveral fertile vallies, and, having ſwelled into a large river, is loſt in the frith of Forth, through which it pours its contents into the German ocean. This river is navigable up to the town of Stirling, for veſſels of 70 tons burden. The ſerpentine windings (inks) of its courſe render the navigation extremely tedi- ous, and conſequently expenſive. The tra& by water from Stirling to Alloa,- near which the weſtern extremity of the frith commences, meaſures no leſs than 19 miles, whilſt the diſtance in a dire& line 1s only 6 miles.--The river Carron which derives its fource from Fintry runs eaſtward through ſeveral pariſhes, and at length diſcharges itſelf into the frith about three miles from Falkirk. It is navigable to the village of Carronſhore, for veſſels of 200 tons burden.=-- The Enrick, to which alſo the pariſh of Fintry glves orl« gin, takes its courſe weſtward, and, at a ſmall diſtance from Buchanan Houſe, the„ſeat of H1s GRACE THE Dyvkt or MoxyTR0SE, enters Lochlomond, of which it is by far the moſt copious feeder. Before, however, it enters the loch, it 18 joined in the pariſh of Killearn by the Blane, a[mall ri- ver which gives name to Strathblane, a beautiful ftrath or nar- row valley through which it runs. Kelvin takes its riſe in Kilſyth, receives the Glazart.a little below Inchbelly-bridge, and, having run a winding courſe, enters the Clyde at Par-
tick, two miles weſt from Glaſgow.--The hiſtory of the wars of the Scottiſfh nation has rendered famous the name of Bannockburn, a ſmall rivnlet or burn originating in the Pariſh of St Ninian's, and joining the Forth a few miles be- 1ow Stirling. Additional to theſe are many burns and ſtreams, which pour down from the higher grounds, and in- terſe& the country in all diredions. They bave generally
hollowed

1:m 7
hollowed» out for themſelves deep furrows or glens on the ſides of the hills, from which, after heavy rains, they ruſh down with dreadful'impetuofity, carrying before them al- moſt every obſtruttion in the way. Many of them in their courſe, falling over high precipices, exhibit not a few mag- nificent and romantic appearances. Some of the waters a- bound with ſalmon, and all of them with excellent trout. The Zochs in the county are very few, and, except Lochlo- mond, which extends for the-ſpace of 14 miles on the weſt- ern boundary of the Shire, are not in any reſpe& remark able.--The canal from Forth to Clyde paſſes through the lower part of the ſhire, the length of 2 5 miles.
MOUNTAINS.
Of the hilly parts of the county the Campfie hills or Fells, as they are commonly called, make no inconfſiderable fgure. The ridge cemmences at the eaſtern extremity of the pariſh of. Denny, and runs weſtward through Kilſyth, Campfie, Strathblane and Killearn, the ſpace of about 20 miles. The waters of Carron and Enrick ſeparate this ridge from the hills of Dundaff and Fintry. The only very remarkable mountain in the(hire is Benlomound, one of the moſt lofty of all the Grampians. This conſpicuous mountain, which never fails to attra& the particular atten- tion oi every ſtranger, is ftuated in the pariſh of Buchanan. Its baſis, part of which 15 waſhed with the limpid water of Lochlomond, is no more than 14 feet above the level of the ſea at high water. The ſhape ofthe mountain 1s conical, and the ſummit, often enveloped with clouds, is raiſed toan ele- vation of 3262 feet above high-water mark.
Among its vegetable produdions are claſſed ſome of the
“rareſt alpine plants in Europe. This majeſtic mountain is the property of His Grace the Duke of Montroſe, and is occupied in ſheep-walks.
H 2:15 The

[ 12]J
The rock on which the Caſtle of Stirling is built, is, in a high degree, bold and romantic.“ This fortreß is of great « antiquity, though no certain account can be given of its “« frft eretion. Old chronicles inform us, that Agricola « raiſed fortifications upon the rock on which it ſtands; nor “ js it improbable that the Romans had a ſtation there, in « which they made the neceſſary preparations for the paſ- Gage of the Forth, and the invaſion of Caledonia. Their “ military caufeway points diredtly to this town, from the « ſouth, and appears again going out from it upon the « north."(Nimmo's Hiſt. of Stirling hire.) The caſtle might be confidered as pretty ſtrong during the old military ſyſtem. Ir was the reſidence of ſome of the Kings of Scotland, and ſuffered many fieges. It is one of the four garriſons which, according to the articles of the Union of the two-kingdoms, are to be maintained as fortifications in Scotland. The proſfpe& from the Caſtle-hill, eſpecially in the diretion down the Forth, whoſe beautiful meanders it comprehends, is by moſt of ſtrangers accounted the fineſt in the kingdom; for, in the words of an elegant poet, it cer- tainly
des ad 2 0er100K5«a fertile Tand.
Moſt of the hills in the county confiſt of whinſtone or granite; but in many places freeftone of various colours makes its appearance- There is not perhaps in the iſland a greater field of freeſtone of different kinds, fome of them the moſt valuable, than is to be ſeen in the eaſtern parts of this county, particularly at Torwood, and from thence north- ward. The pariſh of Killearn is ſupplied with an excellent millſtone quarry, which ſupplies the country round to 2 great diſtance with. millſtones. It began to be regularly worked about 49 Years ag0; it is now cut down to the depth of 24 feets and can afford ſtones of any Üze, and of three different qualities. No where perhaps in Britain, the land of Staffa excepted, do the baſaltic columns appear in fuch numbers, and lie in ſuch wild confuſion, as in the pa- rihes of Campfie, Fintry, and Strathblane. Huge rocks,
exhibiting

[. 443 3]
exhibitins many ranges, each conſiſting of ſeveral hundred columns, 1ying in all directions, are to be met with in more Places than one. Some of the pillars are of gigantic ſtature, and about three feet diameter; others are extremely lender, not being in diameter above five inches."They are four, five, or ſix ſided, but moſt of them five. Some of them are indiſtin&ly jointed, others not. The hamatites, a calciform ore of iron, is found in ſmall quantities in Killearn and Fintry. Manyparts of the hills in Strathblane and Killearn are regular- 1y ftratified with alternate beds of till and an argillaceous Itone, containing a conſiderable proportion of lime and ANON A few very thin ſeams.of gypfum are likewiſe interſperſed among them. The quantity of till, however, is five or ſix times more than all the reſt. Some natural ſedions, as at Ballagan Spout, and the Corries of Balglaſs, exhibit more than a hundred of theſe regular ſtrata. Much of the lower lands in the vicinity of theſe places, is compoſed of a mix- ture of the ſubſlances that by the rains have bven waſhed down from the hills. It would ſeem from a general ſurvey of the globe, that moſt of the ſoil in any place confifts of the pulverized rocks or minerals that are in the neighbourhood, 2 circumſtance which renders even a very minute account of the mineralogy of a country not altogether unconneted with agriculture. Many parts of the fhire abound with lime and coal, as ſhall afterwards be more particularly mentioned.
GLIM ATE.
The weſt and ſouthweſt diſtriäs of the county are expo- ſed to frequent winds and heavy rains from the Atlantic ocean. The clouds in their courſe eaſtward are intercepted by the high ridges of hills already mentioned, which gene- rally receive the greateſt part of their watery contents. Some of the mountains, particularly Benlomond, penetrate ſo far into. the cold regions of the air, that the ſnow, near their ſummits, remains a great part of the year. The
x lower

[Wi 8
lower grounds adjacent to the hills do not ſuffer ſo much'by the ſeverity of cold, as by frequent rains and changeable weather, circumſtances which in moſt caſes greatly retard operations in huſbandry, and the vigorous growth of plants. The town of Stirling, and the northern fide of Campfie bills, with the plains which they ſhelter, experience a cli« mate more dry and favourable. A piercing and long con- tinued eaſt wind, which ſometimes prevails in the end of ſpring and beginning of ſummer, is the chief inconveni- ence which this diſtri& ſuffers from the weather.
By a regiſter of the quantity of rain which fell in the town of Stirling, and which was meaſured by an accurate - hydrometer, it appears, that for the ſpace of five years, be- ginning in 1776, the annual average number of days in which there was rain, was 206, and the average quantity of rain that fell each year was 313 inches deep. The num- ber of rainy days and quantity of rain muſt, in the weſtern parts of the county, have been much greater.;
VOLLEN:
Theſe are extremely various, as may naturally be ex- pe&ed in a country ſo greatly diverſified with hill and dale as Stirlingſhire. Soils are differently diſtinguiſhed accord- ing to' the views which are taken of them. The crops which they are beſt adapted to produce have conſtituted a very common diviſion, as a paſture ſoil, a wheat ſoil, a tur- nip ſoil, and the like. Sometimes they are diſtinguiſhed by their predominant qualities, as wet, dry, light, heavy, cc. At other times they are claſſed according to the kind of earth that|prevails moſt in their compoſition, as clayey, - moſſy*, ſandy. The ſoil in the weſtern pariſhes generally
contains
* An expreſſion uſed in Scotland to denote a ſoil in which there is 2 conſiderable proportion of peat-earth, 2 ſubſtance generally known by the
name of moſs, This term is not altogether improper, as peat-earth is chicßy compoſed of decayed moſſes and their concomitant plants.

1 735-1) contains a conſiderable portion of clay that renders it cold, retentive of water, and produtive of moſſes and coarſe graffes. The ſabſoil is mofßfily either a hard till impene- trable by water, or an argillaceous kind of grit, of a reddiſfh colour, blotched and ſlreaked with white, grey and yellow»
The Car/e Lands conſtitute one of the moſt remarkable Soils in the county. They lie in 2 low fituation on rhe banks of the Forth, and extend, from the river of Avon on the eaſt, to Kelly water on the welt, a ſpace of about 39 miles in length and 2 in breadth, at an average. They are elevated from 105 to ,25 feet above bigh-water mark, and a[mall portion of them in ſome places is overflowed at times by the river. The ſoil 1s univerſally allowed: to be the alluvion depoſited by the Forih and its tributary ſtreams, and conſequently to be the ſpoils of the higher grounds through which the river takes its courſe. It chief- 1y conſiſts of a hazel-coloured clay, a ſmall quantity of fand, and a pretty large mixture of once organized inat- ter. In ſome places are patches of till of various colours; but not a ſtone, ſo large as to obſtrut the plough, is to be found. The ſoil of the beſt quality when dug firſt from the natural bed, is of a bright blue colour, and of a ſub- ſance refembling the richeſt ſoap, and ſometimes even ſerves as a ſubſtitute for fuller's earth.. In many places the clay is excellently fitted for making bricks, tiles and a coarſe kind of crockery ware. The depths are from 5 to 50 feet. The ſubſoils are various, as a Hf brick clay,
hard till, and ſea-ſhells in a natural ſtate. Theſe beds of ſhells are from a few inches to 4 yards in thickneſs; they are chiefly large oyſters, with a mixture of cockles, whelks, and ſome otber ſhells at preſent found in the frith.
Patches of rich and fertile loamy ſoils are interſperſed in different parts of the hire. Light gravelly ſoils are chief- 1y on the banks of Enrick, Carsron, Blane, and other waters in the weſtern and midland parts of the county.
The high moors in this and moſt other places of fimilar climates in Scotland conſiſt of a moſſy ſoil, extremely friable and looſe when dry; but when wet, retentive of water.
Of

[3% X
Of ſuch moors the county of Stirling, little to its profit, 15 far from being deſtitute. One fretches from Sauchie, in the pariſh of St Ninian's, to Bellwell in the pariſh of Bal- frone, the diſtance of about 16 miles, and varies in breadth from 1 mile to 4- Another moor, with a very few narrow ſtrips of arable land excepted, extends from the vicinity of the village of Denny to the weſtern extremity of the coun- ty, a few miles from the town of Dumbarton. This may be about 39 miles in length, and 3 at an average in breadth. A third is fituated in the higher parts of the pariſhes of Drymen and Buchanan, comprehending Benlomond and ſome of the neighbouring hills, a ſpace of about 10 miles in length and 3 in breadth. Another diſtri&, conſiſting moſt- 1y of peat-moſſes and uncultivated moors, occupies a ſpace from Muiravonfide to Cumbernauld,? about 8 miles by 2%. "The whole of theſe moors, which may be called waſte lands, may contain 92,000 acres.
ROADS.
The county is traverſed from eaſt to weſt by a good turn- pike-road, which is ſubdivided at the village of Camelon, one branch leading to Kirkintulloch, Kilfyth, and Glaſgow; and another to Strling, from whence a turnpike-road is making to the weſtern extremity of the county, where it joins Dumbartonſhire. Two turnpike-roads croß the coun- ty from ſouth to north; one by FintrY, another by Killearn. They are made by money borrowed upon the private cre- dit of the truſtees, the intereſt of which is afterwards paid, and the roads kept in good repair by the produce of the tolls. Much improvement has been made upon the private or parochial roads, by the judicious application of the ſta- tute-work, and by private ſübſcriptions. The ſtature-work 1s by a ſpecial at of Parliament converted into money z an option, l:owever, is reſerved to the truſftees to take the
work

1856: 7/87
work zz kind, if they think proper- Good materials for making roads abound in the upper parts of the county; but in the Carſe there are none but what are brought from a diſtance. Many good fione bridges are built at a conlfi- derable expence on the turnpike-roads 3; and alfo ſeveral upon the parochial roads, generally by private contribu- tion, as the public fund 1s very ſcanty.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
ÖTIRLING, 2 town of very remote antiquity, 15 the capital of the county.“ This town, on account of its vicinity to &« the Forth, as well as the caſtle, hath always been deemed “ a place of importance, and a ſort of key to the kingdom. « From the remoteſt ages, the common and eaſielt commu- « nication between the northern and ſouthern parts of the « iſland, hath been by the fords and bridges in its neigh- “ bourhood; hence the poſſeſlion of it hath ever been “« reckoned of the greateſt conſequence to thoſe who fought “ to be maſters of Scotland*."“ The town was ereCtted « into a royal borough by King David 1. about the year « 1150, and is reckoned the fifth borough in Scotland in << point of antiquity+."" It 1s accommodated with a well frequented weekly market held on Friday, and with a confi- derable number of annual fairs, at which great quantities of grain, cattle,&c. are ſold. The market-place 15 good, and the town furniſhed with proper granaries.
Kilſyth and Falkirk are alſo market-towns; the latter 15 populous, and its market well frequented, The population of the whole county may be about 56,000 ſouls, of whom 9500 reſide in the market-towns.
Beſides the market-towns, there 15 a conſiderable number of populous villages, as St Ninian's, Upper and Lower Ban- nockburn, Balfron, Carronſhore, Camelon, Airth, Bains-
C ford,
* Nimmo's Hiſt. of Stuliogſhire, p. 326. FT Ditto, p- 327.

EF 6 D
ford,&8c. Theſe are of great advantage to agriculture, by affording a ready market for many of the more bulky arti- cles of the dairy and the field; and by furniſhing a ſufficient number of labourers for country-work at all.ſeaſons of the year. The county is beautiied with many gentlemens ſeats, ſurrounded by regular and well drefßfed incloſures. Many places are diftinguiſbed by. the remains of no ſmall antiquity, and others are rendered famous by being the ſcenes of many memorable adions, which proved the valour and. ſecured the independence of the Scottiſh nation. Here the vi&orious Romans, by means of the forts of Agricola and wall of Antoninus, thought proper to fix the north- ern limits of their conqueſts in Britain. Conſfiderable remains of the wall and military roads, in ſeveral pla- ges of the county, attraft the notice of attentive travel. lers. Theſe inconteſtable marks of the power of the Ro« man arms are, however, in many places yielding to the de- ſtroying influence of all-devouring time, or are giving place to the more uſeful improvements of agriculture and civili- zed ſociety.“ The fites of ſome of the ſtrong fortrefles of “ the Romans, are, by the power of arts, more amiable than “« thoſe of war, converted into well cultivated fields and & proſpering villas*."*
ESTATES.
The capital eſtates in the ſhire are thoſe of Mr Forbes of Callander, his Grace the Duke of Montroſe, Sir Archibald Edmonſtone, and Lord Dundas. The inferior ones are pretty numerous, and ſome of them of conſiderable extent. A great number of feuars ypon ſmall properties are inter« mixed in many parts of the country.
FARMS. * Nimmo's Hiſt. of Stirlingſhire, p. 25.

FARMS.
The Carſe-lands, which are all arable, are ſubdivided intd farms from about 15 to 1009 acres each, but from 30 to 49 are moſt common. Farms in the higher parts of the coun- €y are from 20 to 1009 Acres, of which there is commonly a mixture of rough wet Jand that 15 paſtured only. Almoſt univerſally the farms are occupied by the perſons who rent them. met with an ſeveral parts, and, in the old language of the
Small poſſellions from 2 to 20: acres are to be
country, are Mill denominated pendzcles. The occupiers of them are in general day-labourers, who gain their livelihbood by working for the neighbouring farmers, or upon the high roads. Many of them are alſo in the poſſellion of manu« faturers or mechanics for the accommodation of their fami- lies, and afford a healthful and profitable avocation from ſe- dentary or leſs adve employments.
RENT.
1
The valued rent of the county is L. 108,000 Scots, th& veal rent may be*conceived to be about L. 95,900 Sterling. The eſtates run from about L. 8200 Sterling to L. 60 of cent. The land in tbe vicinity of towns and villages rents from 40 5- to 75 3- Pe?" acrEe. Carſe-lands are the bigheſt let in tillage farms, and generally bring from 205. to 545- Per acre Scotch. The average is about 37 5- A ſmall portion of Carſe-lands has been lately rented as high as L. 3 per acre 1ipon a leaſe of nineteen years. The great riſe of rents began about twenty-ſe ven years a80 3 but improvements, 2 few years after, received a conſiderable check, which conti- nued during the American war; at the concluſion of which, agriculture again revived, and, in the courſe of the laſt ten years, has in this place been carried to a pitch beyond all
3 C 2 former

[
former example. Lands znzmproved are eagerly ſought after by farmers, who are willing to pay double the former rents, beſides a per centage for money advanced by the pro- prietor for incloſing and other improvements.
20:|
LEASES.
The duration of leaſes is conſidered by ſome people as a mark by which to judge of.improvements of agriculture in any diſtritt. It generally happens, that if leaſes are very Ihort, as one year, or very long, as tbree or ſour ſucceſſive lives of the poſſeſlors, improvements, if there are any, go on but very ſlowly. By the former, no encouragement is given for exertion, or the laying out of money on the land; and by the latter, a culpable InaCtivity is but too frequently tranſmitted from father to ſon; and if the tenant can only ſcrape together as much as will pay the rent, he ſeeks no more. He indulges himſelf in Noth, Keeps his family half- itarved, and trains up his children in the ſame ruinous and diſgraceful habits. OF this baneful pratice, the county of Stirling, ſome time 290, afforded but too many examples. Landholders, finding that in general few improvements were made on lands held in long leaſes, are unwilling'at preſent to leaſe for a longer term than nineteen Years. Some leaſes however extend to the period of thirty-eight Years, and the lifetime of the tenant in poſleſlion. Farms, abonat half a cen- tury ago, and in one inſtance recently, have been let for three times nineteen years. In leaſing upon long terms, great care ſhould be taken to prefer tenants who have pro- ved themſelves to be induſtrious, intelligent, and diſpoſed to make improvements. Formerly very little attention was paid to preſcribing a proper courſe of huſbandry. It is uſual at preſent to ſtipulate, that 2 certain Portion of the farm ſhall be kept in graſs, and to remain ſo at the EXPINY of the leaſe.
FARM.

-BUILDINGS.
On ſome eſtates, the farm-buildings are ſubſtantial and well arranged. The beſt fituation for the accommodation of the farm 15 generally choſen. Dwelling-houſes on many eſtates are two ſtories high, and are uſually covered with Nate or tile. Many of the houſes in the Carſe are of brick, well plaſtered and finiſhed within. Foreign timber, where it can be got on reaſonable terms, is always preferred. Fir, the growth of the country, is ſometimes employed, but ſoon periſhes, or requires frequent and conſiderable repairs. By the conſtruttion of the offices, very little barn-room is al- lowed, the whole crop being ſtacked in the yard; a Prac- tice which generally prevails over all Scotland, and is at- tended with the beſt conſequences. The corns are thereby kept more dry and better conditioned than when depoſited in houſes; leſs is deſtroyed by vermin, when Proper care is taken in building the ſtacks, and the great expence rhat ne- ceſſarily attends the eredion of capacious barns, and keep- ing them in repair, is avoided. Upon the greateſt farms a white corn and a peaſe barn" are to be found. Threſhing- floors for the moſt part require much improvement. They are but too generally formed of clay only, and not of planks, of which it is conceived every threſhing-floor ought to conſiſt, in order, among other things, to produce a clean ſample of grain. In the beſt arranged farms, the buildings are ſo conſtruded 25 to ſurround the yard, where the cattle, well littered down, are foddered through the winter; a pradice which produces the greateſt quantity of manure. The yard is uſually provided with a ſhade for cattle to go under in ſevere weather. The expence of the whole build- ings, as convenlence not ſhow is principally intended, may riſe from one to three years rent of the farm. The re- mains of the old buildings, eſpecially in ſome Places"of the Carſe, form a ſtriking contraſt with the neatneſs and con- venience of houſes ereted in modern times. The old ones
Were;

[ 7 3
were in general formed of clay, tempered with chopped ſtraw. They were built upon a foundation of rough Nones, and the tümbers which ſupported the roof were carried down to the bottom of the clay-wall. When the moſt un- remitting attention was not paid to the thatch, with which they were univerſally covered, the clay-wall rotted in 2 ſeaſon, and thereby the landlord or tenant was put to con- tinual expence for repairs. The materials of theſe old build- ings form a valuable addition to the compolſt dunghill, the beſt uſe to which they are now put.
INCLOSING.
This is conſidered as being the firſt of agricultural im- provements. Proprietors of eſlates have in general execu- ted the work entirely at their own expenCce. In a few in- ſtances, however, the fences have been made by the occu- piers.- One conſiderable eſtate was, about fifty years ag0, much improved by inclofing; but in general the ſpirit for inclofing and planting for ſhelter began about thirty-five years ago, and has ſince rapidly increaſed. AIl manner of fences, from the high ſtone and lime wall to the ſcabbieſt quickſet hedge, are to be ſeen in various parts of the coun- ty. One proprietor X has outſtripped all others in the ex- tent and rapidity of his improvements; for from the year 1786 to 1795, the ſhort ſpace of eight years, he has incloſed no leſs than 7009 acres Scotch, being almoſt fourteen ſquare miles. The whole of the lands, a few acres only excepted, i5 arable, and to be laid under a ſyſtem of tillage. Fortu- nately for the improvement of the country, and the execu- tion of the ſcheme that was judiciouſly adopted, the old
leaſes expired nearly at the ſame time. The tenants who formerly farmed the land by the old ſyſtem of huſbandry, which cannot be too ſeverely cenſured, were under the ne-
cellity x William Forbes, Eſg; of Call/ander, in the neighbourbood of Falkirk.

(4: 23.1
ceſſity of leaving their farms, and the old farm-buildings (Gery ſhabby ones) were either pulled down, or left to fall into ruins; but the ſtones are reſerved for new buildings. The depopulation of ſo great an extent of country, Iying almoſt contiguous, raiſed at firſt a loud outcry againſt the proprietor. Nothing elſe indeed could be expeded from People unacquainted with the nature of extenſive and vigo- rous Improvements in agriculture. But the voice of the public has already very deſervedly changed its tone. It now appears, even to the moſt inattentive obſerver in this diſtriett, that innovations upon old cuſtoms in agri- culture are for the moſt part neither unreaſonable nor diſ- advantageous. The improvements carrying on here give daily bread to a great number of induſtrious labourers, and the numerous advantages that will be derived from them to the community, eſpecially in the immediate neighbourhood, are now obvious to all. The lands will probably contain double the number of their former inhabitants, as well as yield three or four times their former produce, and a ſpirit for improvements will be widely difuſed, That great extent of land, at the expiration of the old leaſes, was unincloſed, the ridges extremely broad, crooked and high raiſed, and the roads to the farms were miſerably bad. Lime, ſammer- fallow, and ſown grafſes, made no part, or but a very im- perceptible one, in the old ſytem. Every impediment to the improvement of this eſtate being at length happily re-- moved, and the land wholly occupied by the proprietor, chiefy in-grazing cattle, the ſyſtem of incloſing commen- ced, on a ſcale ſo extenſive and ſo regular, that it is perhaps unparalleled in any eſtate of arable land of equal extent in the iland. The lines of the incloſures are all ftraight and at right angles with one another; and many of them run on in the ſame diredion without interruption for ſeveral miles. The ridges follow the ſtraight courſe of the fences, for which the ſituation of the ground correſponds remarkably well. Several roads, parallel'to each other, are drawn the whole length of the eſtate, and theſe are interſeted at right angles
by.

24]
[
by others. By theſe roads, which are of a ſuſficient width,
free acceſs is had to every field, there being only two fields between each road. The ground 1s naturally dry, except 1]' a very few ſmall ſpots, that are cut through by open drains which may afterwards be covered. Large belts and clumps of trees are judiciouſly interſperſed both for ſhelter and or- nament.
The fences are moſtly of white thorn with double ditches, between which a mound or dike of earth 1s raiſed. The ditch next the hedge 1s commonly 5 feet wide at the top„. and 3 feet deep, the other 15 3 feet wide; the dike or bank between them 1s 4 or 5 feet broad at the baſe, and as much in height above the ſurface of the ground. The following draught of a ſection of this fence will convey a proper idea of its conſtrudtion.
The quicks are placed horizontally over two layers of turf taken up in opening the ditch, and are laid down with the graſs ſide undermoſt. Care is taken to fil up with earth the deep furrows between the old ridges, ſo that the line of the hedge may be on alevel. A layer of turf, with the graffy fide undermoſt, is carefully placed immediately above the roots of the thorns; over that the earth from the ditches 15 thrown up into the form of a Nloping ſided mound; a mar- gin, a foot broad, is left below the thorns, and another 5 the ſame breadth on the other ſide of the dike. The hedge
A 13|

6 258.]
15 weeded twice a year, and when two years old, a layer of turf 15 placed on the margin immediately below the thorns, [5 that any part of the roots that may have been expoſed by the occaſional falling away of the earth, may be fully co- vered up. The hedges are all in ſingle rows, having the plants at the'dilance of four inches from each other, and at every three yards diſtance, a plant of oak, elm, beech, or other wood, 15 planted alvng with the thorns for a hedge- row. The thorns are purchaſed when ſeedlings, and are trained up for two or three years in a nurſery on the eſtate before they are tranſplanted into the fences. By. this means they are in a great meaſure naturalized to the ſoil and ch- mate. A number of thorn plants, not leſs than 6,000,000, have been planted in making theſe fences, the lines of which meaſure 409 miles in length. The hedges are thri- ving extremely well, They are not defended by dead fences,(palings,&c.) the ereCtion of which ſeems to be confined to. plantations only. The oak, elm,&c. plants in the hedge-rows amount to about 230,0009, which, were one fourth only to grow to the ſize of trees, will not only ſhelter* but beautify the country. The cattle are carefully herded, which affords conſiderable prote&ion to the young quicks. The cloſes or fields run from three to eight acres each. The greateſt number, however, contains fix acres; but the park adjoining to the manſion(Callander-houſe) contains 6920.
Hedges,„where attention has been paid them, riſe ex- tremely well in moſt parts of the country, but no where better than in the Carſe, where ſome admirable ſpecimens
of hedge-fences may be ſeen.
Wet ditches alone are, in ſome parts of the Carſe, ſuppoſed to be ſuflicient fences, ſeveral of them being ten feet wide and of a conſiderable depth. It is believed, that the extra- ordinary dimenſion of theſe excavations has been owing to 2 long continued prattice of procuring from them clay for
D Various

[11269]
various purpoſes, as houſe-building, brick-making,&c- Their ſides and bottoms afford heavy crops of coarſe grafles, as the-fe/2uca fluitans, arundo phragmites, carexes and ſeges, beſides a conſiderable proportion of good grafles, as poas, 8&c. which, from the moiſture of the ditches,«grow with great luxuriance, and, in the ſummer ſeaſon, are carefully cut with the ſcythe or ſickle, to be eat green, and in former times afforded the principal ſuſtenance of the milch cows and young cattle on the farm.
Stone walls are frequently met with in the county. They are of various ſorts. Thie height in general is 43 feet, with a covering or coping of ſods, ſometimes in one and often in two rows. The workmen are very dexterous in forming theſe ooverings. Thoſe that are beſt conſtructed projet a few inches on each ſide of the wall. The beſt walls are built of that kind of freeftone which readily ſplits into thin layers like lags. The ſtones are laid horizontally in regular rows, and laſt even without lime, the dikes re- quiring very little repair, for thirty or forty years. The ex- pence of building is from 15. to 18. 6d. per yard running meaſure. Where freeſtone cannot eaſily be got, and eſpe- cially where the ſurface of the ground is incumbered with Faſt ſtones,(as 15 the caſe in' many places in the upland parts of the ſhire), the walls are, for two thirds of their height, conſtrudted of large irregular ſhaped ſtones wedged toge- ther, and upon theſe large ſtones a Nender wall, in height from 18 inches to 2 feet, is formed. This wall, which is 'ereded at no great coſt, makes an excellent fence, eſpecially for ſheep; and, where attention 15 paid to replace the ſtones when fallen down, will continue for many years:
A favourite mode of incloſing adopted by fome gentle- men, eſpecially on grounds upon the ſides of the great roads, ſcems to be a ſort of /unk feice, faced with ſtones on the ſide next the road. The height is from 3 to 5 feet. The fäce of the wall is ſometimes caſt with lime, but often not. Theſe walls-are deſigned as'a' defence againſt the numerous
droves

[7 DJ
droves of cattle which paſs through the county, eſpecially in ſummer and autumn. Ata little diſtance from the top of the wall, white thorns are generally planted. But as this kind of incloſfing requires poſt and rail, or ſome fimilar fence, to defend the quicks from the cattle Paſturing in the feld, it 15 believed to be, upon the whole, the moſt expen- ſive;mode of incloſing pradiſed, and does not ſeem to gain ground with more modern improvers., In the upland parts of the county, ſmall incloſures, for the Purpoſe of feeding 4heep and cattle at night in ſummer, are formed of turf only. Theſe walls, after ſtanding a few Years, are levelled, and the turf, being conſidered as a valuable enrichment to the ſoil, is broke into ſmall pieces, and uſed as a manure. Part of the moors is incloſed with ſtone walls; and ſome very conſiderable plantations, fenced in the fame manner, have been formed on the edges of the moors, chießy by Mr Ram- ſay of Bannockburn and Mr Dunmore of Ballindalloch. About two thirds of the county, excluſive of the moors, is incloſed.|
DRAINS.
The ſyſtem of draining is only beginning" to be under- ſtood and pradtiſed in the county. A great deal of good work, in that way, has, however, already been executed on the eſtate-of Callander. The drains are principally of the open kind; and much attention has been Paid in ſtudying the proper level to condut the water off the various and extenſive fields. Covered drains have been made in a great variety of forms, by his Grace the Duke of Montroſe, in his extenſive park at Buchanan. The flatneß of the ground in that place, occaſions the Principal difficulty in conduting the drains. In ſome places the cuts have been made in pa- rallel lines, only a few Yards aſunder: and at Preſent the effeet appears to equal the moſt fſanguine expeCations. The
D'2 richeſt

[28 3
richeſt crops of corn and graſs now cover the ſurface, where a /Arighland poney could not formerly ſet his hoof without a certainty of being dogged: His Grace's lands ap- pear alſo to be greatly"improved by well condutted ſurface- drains."
The greateſt improvement in the Carſe, or wet clay Jands, has been accompliſhed by wel direded ditches, com- municating with one another, and emptying themſelves into (mall ſtreams, which diſcharge their contents into the Forth. In plowing the Carſe lands alſo a great improvement has lately been effetted, by leveling the old ridges, which were high raiſed, broad and crooked; by making them perfedtly ſtraight, and of a moderate breadth, from 15 to 24 feetz and by lowering the head-lands, or ridges, by which means the water in the furrows flows freely over theſe bead-lands into the ditches, and the ground is kept conſiderably drier
than formerly. The pernicious cuſtom of allowing daw/ks, or narrow ftrips of graſs, to remain between the ridges is now entirely aboliſhed; and theſe baulks are now plowed into, and form a part of the adjoining lands. In old times the ridges in the Carſe were often from 30 to 509 feet broad; and the crown or ſummit, in many caſes, Was raiſed to the height of 4 feet above the level of the furrow. It was imagined that, without ſuch an enormous elevation, the land could not poflibly be kept dry. The preſent height ;s limited to that of two gatherings in plowing; fo that when the land is under ſummer fallow, the ridges may be plowed perfe&ly flat; then croſs plowed, and afterwards properly dreſſed.
Several intelligent gentlemen are anxiouſly looking for an explanation of the new method of under-ground drain- ing, introduced ſo ſucceſsfully in the central counties of Eng- Jand, by Mr Elkington, and other genjuſes in that way. Drains in this. county, wherever covered ones have been introduced, are generally formed of ſmall pebbles gathered from the land, and filled up to Ihe height of 2 feet, with a
ſultciency

kum
[29] 1
ſufliciency of ſoil laid over them, to enable the plough to go eaſily.;
Many parts in the weſtern diſtrits of the county ſtand very much in need of draining to carry off under wa- ter, which riſes in the ſides of the hills. Few improve- ments in agriculture can be carried on with ſucceſs in theſe places, until the ground is effetually drained. In the preſent ſtate the ground muſtremain wet, co/d, and unpro- duttHve, except of ruſhes, Tarexes, bent and other coarſe grafſes. But the espence, inſeparably connetted with this operation, is ſo great, that probably a long time will elapſe, before much 1s effeQually done in that way.
MODE OF CROPPING.
In the richeſt lands of the county the. grains univerſally fowed were beans, barley, and oarts, in regular ſucceſlion, without artificial grafſes of any kind. Even in the Carſe parts of the county, where the ſoil: is almoſt wholly ofa rich quality, the execrable cuſtom prevailed of excluding, perhaps two thirds of the farm, from any ſhare of the ma- nure produced upon it. Succeſlivecrops of oats were ſow- ed upon the excluded part, which they called ow?2e/d, un- tl the land yielded perhaps not twice the ſeed, and that of 2 very poor quality. Then the ſoil was left to turf itſelf, and as ſoon 25 the graſs allowed a tolerable bite to the poor ſtarved animals, that were driven upon it to paſture, the plough was again introduced, and the ſame defſtruttive ſy- ſtem continued without the ſmalleſt alteration. About 35 Years 290, a few enterprifing men, having got the better of unworthy prejidices, introduced the pradice of ſummer fallow, the application of lime as a manure, and the ſowing of graſſes. The old faſhioned farmers have, although very owly, adopted theſe pratices. Lime 15 now applied, with ſucceß, upon all ſoils; wheat is ſowed upon ſummer fallow;
and

1.65.73
and clover, the uſes of which valuable graſs are now uni- erſally felt and acknowledged, is applied upon rich lands, chiefly to be cut green, and given to horſes and other ſtock of the farm. A great quantity, however, is made into hay, both for ſale and home conſampt.
In the Carſe lands much barley 18 cultivated; and 1s thought to be of a quality equal to any in the iſland. The grain in the upland parts of the county is of a much infe« rior quality» as a proof of which the Sheriff of the coun- ty, when annzally ſtriking the fiars, rates the barley under three claſſes, v?2. 1. Carſe: 2. Dryfield*: 3.'Moorland: the difference of. price being from 5 to 20 per cent. between theſe claſſes,)
Oats are more ſeldom ſowed than formerly. Farmers ſow no more on the beſt lands than what ſuflices to feed their horſes, and to grind into meal for the uſe of their fa- milies-
Peaſe and Beans, owing to changeable weather, and a wet and cold climate and ſoil, are very little cultivated in the higher parts of the county; but form a very valuable part of the produce of the Carſe-lands. Beans are ſeldom ſow- ed without a mixture of peaſe, in the proportion of a third or a fourth. It is obſerved by the farmer, that peaſe ſown in this manner anſwer two purpoſes; they ſerve for making ropes to bind the ſheaves in time of harveſt; and the ſtraw or haulm makes a better fodder for cattle, than that of beans only. The late kind 15 ſowed in the middle of March, or beginning of April; the daſlings kind about the end of April; but the wetneß of the ſpring, in this climate, gene- rally precludes early fowing. The cultivation of beans has been attempted in drills, and in ſome favourable ſeaſons have produced crops, amounting to I1 bolls per acre: but in general the prattice does not ſucceed, owing, it 15 belie-
ved,
* A name commonly given to the dry grounds adjvining to the Carſe.

[BEZUEU
ved, to the moiſture of the ſoil and climate; which prevents early ſowing, and horſe-hoeing between the rows, and oc- caſion the ſlalks to grow with ſo much luxuriancy, that the beans did not pod and ripen ſo well as in the broad-caſt way". Vetches or tares are often mixed with peaſe and beans 5 but ſeldom ſowed alone. One gentleman, for the purpoſe of ſoiling horſes, cultivated the /ummer vetich upon Carſe- land. They ſucceeded remarkably well, and afforded a noble bite between the firſt and ſecond cuttings of clover. The wz7t- ter vetch has never been attempted 3; the ſoil and climate, as already ſtated, being unfavourable.
Potatoes.=-It appears from a memoir preſented to the Board of Agriculture by William Wright, M.D. F.R. 5. that tbis valuable exotic was not planted out in the open field in this county, or perhaps any where elſe in Scotland, till about the year 1728, when Thomas Prentice, a day- ]abourer, firſt eultivated potatoes in the open field in the pa- riſh of Kilſyth. His example, owing to the ſucceſs of his experiment, was ſoon followed by ſeveral of his neigh- bours: But little or none of the produce was for a while expoſed to ſale. His perſevering exertions, aided by a lau- dable induſtry, enabled him to accumulate L. 200 Sterling, which he ſunk for double intereſt. Upon this he ſubfiſted till his death, which happened at Edinburgh'in 1792. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-ßx. To men in the lower ſtations of life, ſociety is not unfrequently indebted for ſome of the moſt valuable improvements. A tribute of grateful remembränce is ſurely the leaſt reward that the community can beftow on a worthy charader, that has con- tributed, in any remarkable degree, to promote the good of mankind.
About twelve or-ſixteen“ years after potatoes were thus introduced, Mr Graham, who alfo lived in Kilſyth, cultiva- ted them in great quantities for ſale. This gentleman was among the firſt who ſupplied the market of Glaſgow with potatoes. He was very ſucceſsful; and bis» example in rais
- ling

[1 3055]
ſing the large, round, reddiſh-coloured- potatoe in the open field for the market, was ſoon followed by many farmers. The memory of this gentleman will be long held in high eſteem by the inhabitants of Kilfſyth and the neighbouring pariſhes.. An attempt of that kind, eſpecially when follow- ed with conſequences ſo uncommonly beneficial to the beſt intereſts of ſociety, merits the higheſt approbation of the public. The cultivation of the potatoe is now ſo univerſal, that farmers plant them even in ſtrong clay land, where the ſucceſs is ſomewhat doubtful. The utmoſt attention is paid to hoeing and cleaning the crop; and it is to be hoped, that the beneficial effets of this prad&ice, applied to potatoes, will encourage huſbandmen to extend it to other crops. In ge- neral, potatoes are planted in rows, and carefully horſe or hand hocd and weeded. In ſome places, bits of old paſture and wettiſh ſoils are planted in /azy deds. Theſe are alſo carefully hand-hoed and weeded. This is pradiſed on a ſmall ſcale for bringing in waſte pieces of ground, eſpecially where a ſuſficiency of manure can be procured. The long Kidney potatoe is preferred to every other variety. A few gentlemen have tried the yam, and find it to be a valuable food for milch cows. The application of potatoes for feed- ing horſes has been made by ſeveral gentlemen, and the Pradttice ſeems to gain ground. They have alſo been tried for feeding cattle, but the return was not equal to expedta- tion, and therefore the application of them this way is con- ſidered as an unprofitable expenditure of the crop.
Flax is fowed in ſmall quantities in almoſt every part of the county. The crops, even in expoſed ſituations, are com- monly good. Much of ihe land ſouth of Falkirk is ex- tremely well adapted for the growth of this plant. Farm- ſervants and day-labourers are fond of cultivating it, and, as a part of their wages, often bargain to have a ridge or two granted them for that purpoſe. The ground is plow- ed, ſowed and dreſſed for'them by the farmer. Patches of land for raiſing potatoes are conditioned for in the ſame
way.

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«
[38|
way.» The flax is carefully weeded, and artificial graſles often ſowed along with it; which pradttice 13 found. by ex- perience to be the moſt deſirable method of laying land to graſs, the ground being well prepared, the flax early pul- led, and the crop carried off in the dry part of the ſeaſon; circumſtances in favour of the young graſs plants.
The Turzip huſbandry has been tried in various parts of the county, principally by proprietors of eſtates; but from the moiſture of the climate and wetneſs of the ſoil, the land has been found to poach, in carrying off the crop in winter, and very little of the land is dry enough to have them fed off where they grow. They have been cultivated in the moſt populous parts of the county; but the culture has been much diſcouraged by the depradations of poor people and children, inſomuch that the owner of the field has not ſome- times been able to retain above one half of the crop for his own uſe. The culture, however, ſeems to be increaſing in the breeding part of the county.
Graſſ?ts. The cultivation of ſown grafles has now be- come very general; and the many advantages which reſult from this ſpecies of huſbandry are acknowledged by all. In laying lands to graß, the kinds uſed are the red and white clovers, ryegraß, narrow leaved plantain, and tre- foil or yellow clover. The ſtate of the ground,«he ſeaſon of the year, the previous crop, and the uſes for which the graſßles are Intended, regulate, in a great meaſure, the quan- tities of ſeed of each kind, that are allowed to an acre. Red clover is ſowed from 8 to 20 Ib. per acre, white clo« ver from 3 to 8 1b., yellow from 2 to 5 1b., plantain from 3 to 6 1b. and ryegraſs from 1 to 2 buſhels. The produ&t is various. An acre of Carſe-land yields from 150 ſtones of hay; to 400, at one cutting; the medium may be about 250. Inthe uplands the Pprodud is from 82 to 250 ſtones Per acre. More tban half the crop is uſually carried to market; but in ſmall farms the whole 15 generally ſold, as
E the

| 82. 1
che occupiers feed their horſes upon ſtraw only. The ſe- cond cutting, if the ſeaſon is favourable, is made likewiſe into hay: otherwiſe it is either paſtured, or cut and eat green. The ground 1s ſeldom, except in Carſe-lands, plow- ed up after one crop. By the common prattice the field is| bhayed the ſecond year, and afterwards paſtured for two, three or four years. Light land, when in good heart, is conceived by the beſt farmers in this county, to be capable of pro-
« Aucing two good crops of grain, ard four of graß alternately.
Oats is always the firſt crop after the land is broke up; and graſs ſeeds are again ſowed with the ſecond crop, which is uſually barley. In the Carſe-lands the following courſe-is generally preferred; 1. Summer fallow; 2. Wheat; 3. Beans and Peaſe; 4. Barley; 5.Hay; 6. Oats. The land is well manured with lime, dung, or compoſt. Six chalders of lime, and 40 fingle-horſe cart-loads of dung, are not unfrequently given to an acre,'
MANURES.
Lime. This moſt uſeful foſlil is employed as a manure every where inthe county; and the advantages ariſing from it, are amazing. Limeſtone of different kinds abounds in the county: ſome are of the very beſt quality, and few but may be wrought with advantage. The varieties which abound in the pariſhes of Buchanan, Killearn, Fintry, and 2 few other places in that neighbourhood, are quite de- Litute of the ſmalleſt viſible remains of once organiſed matter, Some in the vicinity of Culcreuch are of 2 blu- ih colour, and admit of a fine polilh. The coarſer kinds abound with a conſiderable'proportion of clay. The high price of coal in theſe pariſhes, deters huſbandmen from burning ſo much of it as they would otherwiſe do. Some of it 35 burnt with peat, immenſe quantities of which gene- rally

1.85). 7 rally abound in the immediate vicinity of limeſltone 18 theſe pariſhes. The difliculty and expence in procuring a „fufficient quantity of this fuel, eſpecially in wet ſeaſons, throw an obftacle in the way of the prattice. That, how- ever, might be removed were ſome methods taken to pro- cure peat in greater abundance than is done at preſent, with more certainty: of drying them, and with leſs expence. Too little attention has probably been paid to what ſhould be the proper methods of ca/?1g, digging and preparing peats» The time 15 at no great diſtance when, upon the ir- reparable waſte of the coal ſtrata, the attention of the com- munity will be direded to the proper management of peat- moſſes, and the converting of them into fuel. But why poſt- pone to futurity any ſpecies of improvement that would employ idle hands, better the condition, and render more comfortable many thouſands of mankind, and what would tend to promote, eſpecially in diſtricts remote from coal, ſome uſeful branch in agriculture?
In the centre of the county, and in the pariſhes of Camp- ſie.and Baldernock, are extenſive ſtrata of limeſtone, in which are contained the remains of the inhabitants of the ancient ocean. They are quarried and burnt in confidera- ble quantities; and ſold unſlacked at the kiln, from 14 d. to 18 d. per firlot, ox buſhel*. The lime-ſhells, when drawn from the kiln, and carefully lacked, produce three times their bulk of powdered lime. Great quantities of lime are alſo brought from the lime-works of Lord Elgin and others, upon the banks of the Forth: and although it is not of equal quality with the very beſt lime in this county, yet the farmers near the river prefer it on account of the ſhort neßs of the carriage. In the eaſtern parts of the county, lime of the beſt quality, is alfo got from the quarries at Torphichen in Linlithgowſhire. Farmers on the banks of the canal have the benefit of lime from the great lime-work at Netherwood, fix miles welt of Falkirk.-----Limeſtöne, in
E22 the
X The firlot for meaſuring lime is, in this county, from 5 to 19 Pe!
vent. better than the Wincheſter buſhel.,

[420.1 the quarries of this county, commonly lies in thin ftrata; ſeldom exceeding four feet in thickneſs. The places cho- ſen for working it are generally hollows in a hilly country, and where a level to carry off the water can be command- ed. In that caſe the ſtratum of lime 15 perforated in the form of chambers, Laving thick poſts of the ſtone for ſup- port of the roof, which is generally freeſtone, and in ſome places 20 yards thick. Where the lime 1s very valuable, the whole ſtratum is fometimes worked out, and the roof ſupported by poſts or props of wood, in the ſame manner as coal is worked in the Shropſhire, or /0729-way, as the miners term it. Gun-powder is employed in the work, and the expence of courſe is conſiderable. The workmen are paid at a certain rate, per meaſure of ſtones turned out. The lime 13 burnt in draw-kins of one, two, or three eyes, and con- taining from 69 to 200 bolls of ſhells.--The pariſh of Bal- dernock is pofſefſed of a quarry, which is equalled in very few places. The upper ſtratum 13 a good clayey loam, deep enough for'any of the operations of agriculture: below that is 3 ſtratum of-an excellent peat-moſß, which makes good fuel;;t 35 about three or four feet in thickneſs: im- mediately under that 1s a bed of good limeſtone, ſeveral feet in thickneſs: that again is incumbent on a thick ſeam of excellent coal, which lies upon another ſeam of good limeſtone. No ſearch, ſo far as I know, was made for the ſubjacent metals. The coal was partly worked by mining, many years- ago. This valuable quarry is now worked in the ſurface way. The operations are carried on upon a good plan, the different materials are very good; they are al worked together: on the ſpot, and the coal 15 at hand to burn the limeßone. After the whole is finiſhed, the ground may» at a Very ſmall expence, be rendered.arable. A thick ſtratum of an excellent limeſtone has been long
worked in another part of the pariſh of Baldernock; but on 2 very bad plan. The tenants in the neighbourhood have 2 right to quarry from it what limeſtone they need. Being under no refßtraints, they open what part of it they
x plealt,

[1-37 41
pleaſe, are at no pains to keep the“level for the water open, and they diſpoſe of the rubbiſh in a manner the eaßeſt for themſelves.“In this manner the quarry is, in a great meaſure, ruined; the ſtones are now procured with difficulty, and a great part of the ſtratum is loſt for ever. It often happens that the public ſuffers by the improper condudt of a few.indi- viduals. In that caſe ſome meaſure ſhould be adopted to de- prive them of a right they ſo wantonly abuſe: or oblige them to uſethat right ſo as to anſwer the original intention, without any material injury to ſociety. Lime as a manure, being one of the moſt powerful and extenſive agents in agri- culture, is a great ſource of national proſperity. The proper management of limeſtone quarries in all their varieties, and the various methods of preparing the lime for the ſoil, come therefore under the particular inſpeCtion of the Board of A- griculture.
This manure is laid upon all kinds of ſoils in the county. The effets of the firſt application of it are generally very great. The quantity uſed is from 25 to 70 bolls of ſhells Per acre. The beſt farmers commonly make compoſts of ditch-earth, ſcrapings of roads, rotten vegetables, peat moſs, and other ſpare ſoil, to which they add lime in the propor- tion of one, to three or four of the ſoil, tc. The heap after 1ying two or three months, is turned over once, and ſome- times twice; and afterwards applied as a top drefling upon graſs lands, or a manure for barley. The heap 13 general: 1y prepared on the head lands, or adjoining to the farm- yard, where the materials ca2 be moſt eafily colleCed.
Dung. Farm-yard dung is raiſed in conſiderable quanti- ties. Horſes and cattle are generally houſed in the winter ſeaſon: and a few farmers fodder their cattle in a ſiraw- yard, where large quantities of manure are made, eſpecilal- 1y in thoſe farms which abound in ſtraw*. At the end ot
the
X Corns, almoſt every where in the county, are cut remarkably low» and the Nubble is never raked or chopped for litter.

f: 38 1
che ſeaſon the mannre colleted in the yard 1s carried out
and laid in heap3 to complete the rotting of it; and in three
or four months theſe heaps are ready for uſe. This is an important circumſtance in the right management of farm- yard dung, though not ſo much attended to as it ought to be. The proper degree of corruption which makes dung the fitteſt for being applied to corn or graſs land, is one of the moſt important ſpeculations for the Board to enquire af- ter. In afew places cattle are fattened upon turnips, given
in the yard; and it has been found that the crop of turnips pays well, even when they are applied to carry on a lean ſtock. This pratice adds greatly to the quantity of manure, but can only be attained where there is great command of firaw. Conſiderable quantities of manure are alſo got from
the many manufacturing villages in the county. The dung
and ſullage of the towns are uſed in great quantities, and
carried by farmers to the diſtance of three miles: the price
15 from 10 d. to 28. 6d. per cubic yard; the average price
may be about 18 d. Conſfiderable attention 15 paid, in tbe
large farm-yards, to the proper conſtruction of dunghills.
In the country-»are ſeveral very large diſtilleries, where
great numbers of black cattle, and a few ſwine, are fatten- ed: the dung which they produce is believed to be the
richeſt in the county, one cart load of it being reckoned
equal to two of what is produced on a common farm. The
ſuperior quality is aſcribed partly to the food on. which
the cattle are fattened, being. the grain and waſh from the
ſtills; and partly that the cattle are very /caztzly Zttered,
owing to the great number of them, when compared with
the quantity of ſtraw, which the diſtillers can procure. Far-
mers in general now value ſtraw ſo highly that very little is
fold; infſomuch that owners of eſtates, though unwilling to
engage in the operoſe buſineſs of farming, are compelled to
Plow up a field now and then, to procure ſiraw for littering, heir horſes and cattle.
She

6. 39 7
Shell marl. The quantity of this manure is ſo ſmall in the county, and the quality ſo bad, that extremely little of it is uſed, when lime can be got at a moderate price.
Peat-earth 15 applied as a manure ſeveral ways. In the vicinity of peat-moſſes, the farmers as ſoon as their dung- Pits are empty, uſually lay a quantity of this ſubſtance in the bottom of theſe pits, in order to abſorb the moiſture of the dung. This peat-earth when turned forms a valuable addition to the mannre, eſpecially if laid upon ſtrong clayey land. In the neighbourhood of the moſſes alſo peat-earth is burned, and the aſhes ſpread on the ground, as a top- dreſſing. This method is pradiſed only by the poorelt far- INECLSs
IMPLEMENT7TS OF HUSBANDRT.
Plough.- Small's improved plougbh, with iron head and caſt iron mould-board, is almoſt univerſally uſed. But be- ing an expenſive implement(be price 6.2. 205.) tbe Poorer farmers prefer a coarſe plough, which 20 years ago was the only one uſed in the county, being the old Scotch Plough with a ſtraight beam, and a pz4&e ſock for ſtrong land, and a, feathered one for light. The uſual draught for Small's plough 1s a pair of horſes; unleſs when breaking up the land for ſummer fallow, when deep plowing, eſpecially in the Carſe, is much prattiſed. Thoſe who introduced the culture of turnips have imported the drill barrow, and the light plough for horſe-hoeing between the rows. The dou- ble mould-board plough for earthing up the rows 1s uſed in ſome places.
Harrows. The common harrow which is generally em- ployed, contains from 16 to 25 teeth or 7yzes. The moſt approved. kind has the. teeth formed like the coulter of 2
plough;

1"30 7
Pplough; they are four inches long and one and a half broad.
Some farmers uſe the breake or heavy bharrow drawn by four horſes. It is generally of two pieces, and of a trian- gular form; the teeth are very long and ſtout. The hinder
part is fitted with two handles to raiſe or depreſs the teeth,
as may be neceſſary. The principal uſe of this harrow is for tearing out couch graſs, and other root weeds in ſummer fallow, or in preparing the ground for-barley. Much atten- tion is required in the perſon dire&ing the handles to notice when the teeth of the harrow are filled with roots 3; and to ſtop the horſes till the roots are removed from the teeth. "This 15 alfo carefully done in turning the harrow at the end of the ridges» The roots are afterwards colleted and burnt,
Carts. Single, and ſometimes double horſe carts are the uſual carriages-. By the moſt improved conftruttion the wheels are about 54 inches high, with iron, axletrees. To the top of the cart is occaſionally fitted 4 ſparred frame, projeding from 12 to 24 inches all round. Theſe frames are for the purpoſe of tranſporting hay, or corn in the ſtraw: and, where the roads are good and tolerably level, a ſingle horſe will draw from 12 to 25 cwt. In ſome billy parts of the county a ſecond horſe is generally uſed, but ſingle horſe carts are moſt approved of, where pratticable. It is difficult, however, to perſuade certain perſons that the two horſe cart is not the preferable one. But they aſlign no good reaſon for tlieir opinion. By long experience, and the moſt attentive obſervation, it is found, that one horſe, in 2 cart properly fitted to its ze and ſtrength, will draw, in any road, two thirds of the load that two horſes, drawing in 2 line, and of equal power, are capable of doing. The carters of the town of Falkirk have been long famous for the great weights drawn by their carts. Before the naviga- ble canal between Forth and Clyde was made, the whole
* goods tranſported to.and from Glaſgow, and the ports upon
the Forth, were by theſe carters, drawn upon one and two s horſe

[41.114
horſe carts. By long uſage theſe men became very dexte- rous in the arts of loading and tranſporting goods. The moſt expert of them have long given the preference to carts drawn by one horſe. They have no difliculty to draw, upon a fingle horſe cart, from Borrowſounneſs to Glaſgow, (2 diſtance exceeding 309 miles, and the road not good), from 20 to 35 ewt. Their ſyſtem ſeems to be to uſe none but old ſeaſoned horſes; they feed them extremely high*, and do not reckon that they can work a horſe, at that rate, longer than two years.„So expert are theſe carters, in'the tranſ- port of all manner of goods, that a great iron-work Com- "pany which formerly made uſe of waggons, and waggon- ways, to wheel their coals and other heavy articles upon, have now entirely laid aſide the uſe of waggon-ways, and em- ploy theſe carters, who, it is belieyed, tranſport goods at 2 much lower rate than that by which the Company was for- merly ſerved. The roads through which they travel are ſometimes very deep; and horſes not accuſtomed to them find great: difficulties in making their way; but theſe Fal- kirk carters, who have been long 2accuſtomed to the buſi- neß, eaſily: puſh through them; and they have ſerved the Company ſo many years, that no one doubts the trade be- ing a profitable one.:
Skdges. All over this country, and eſpecially in the Carſe, a ſmall ſledge, drawn by one horſe, was the only carriage uſed for harveſting the crop, and for other pur- boſes: the load was extremely ſmall. This ancient and ſimple machine, being very cheap, and eafily mounted, is Ml! in vſe among ſmall farmers, principally in the billy farms.
Rollers of ſeveral ſorts are uſed upon graßs-lands after bar- ley ſowing; and to reduce ſummer fallow in a dry ſeaſon. F Some
X They are principally fed with beans of the beit quality, at the rate do? half a buſhel in 24 hours; with 3 ſmall quantity of hay, not more than 8 1b;

[X 425 1]
Some are formed of caſt iron, others of wood, the ſmaller ones of a ſolid log; the larger are conſtrutted of a piece of ſolid timber in the centre, and the outfide framed of nar- row planks, ſheathed upon narrow ribs of wood, proje&ing from the centre piece; the whole ſhut in at both ends, and forming a roller ſix feet in length, and five in diameter. "This machine is drawn by two horſes a-breaſt, with the af- ſiſtance occaſionally of two horſes in front. The frame 1s fitted above with a box to be loaded with extraordinary weights when required. In the Carſe-lands a roller with large iron ſpikes 1s alſo ſometimes uſed to break the clods. In a dry ſeaſon it 15 found dificult to reduce the ſtrong clay land under ſummer fallow, even with all theſe helps. It is often found neceſſary to wait for a ſhower before the cloddy land can be attacked with any proſpe& of ſucceſs.!
Threfhing mächzines. Of theſe there are ſeveral in the county, and they do a great deal of work. The ſtraw ſuf- fers more under this operation, than by that of the flail 5) The expence, however, of threſhing corn by the machine, rather than in the ordinary way, is a ſaving of full one third. But as the farms are generally ſmall, the*introduc- tion of that implement does not appear to be on the in- ereaſe.]
One of the firſt threſhing machines in the iſland, was, 50 years ago, ereded in this county by a gentleman of con- üderable fortune: but, although examined by many perſons of enterpriſe, no other was built in imitation of it. The movement was by a water wheel. It is believed that ſome hints were taken from it by thoſe engineers who have ſince brought that uſeful inſtrument to its preſent ſtate of perfec- tion. Thoſe now in uſe, in this county, are regulated by a wheel turned by one or two horſes, and coſt from L, 35
to L. 5o Sterling.
Winnowigg

[436-5
Winnowzang machines have been in general uſe for up» wards of 25 years. They are fitted to clean all ſorts of corns. It 15 believed that their conſtrution admits of no farther improvement. The price 1s from L. 2 to L. 3.
FARMERS SERVANTZS.
Servants in ſome places are vidualled in their maſters houſes; and have for wages from L. 5 to L. 105 a year; the average may be about L. 7, 108. But in general an allow- ance 15 made of two pecks(174 1b. Averd.) cf oat-meal, and 6d. of money per week: the ſervants cook their own viduals, the maſters finding them coals and utenfils. Ser- vants when married have cottages of their own; oat-meal, E money, tc. are allowed them; and they. cook their vic- tuals in their own houſes.=--A few farmers have their whole work done by day-labourers, who receive their pay weekly, at the rate:of from gd. to 15d. a day. Some kinds of work, as turning of compoſt dunghills, threſhing and other jobs, are done by the piece. The moſt attentive farmers encourage labourers to work by the, piece, as this mode of ſervice 1s thought to excite emulation among la- bourers, and thereby both the employers and workmen are SAaIners,*
LIVE STOCK.
Horſes. The beſt horſes for the draught are bought from the counties of Lanark and Ayr. The farmers in this County, about 30 or 40 years ago, bred more horſes than at preſent. They were of a ſmaller fize than 1s now approved of; and, as it was the univerſal cuſtom to yoke not leſs than four hoxsſes in a plough, the colts and fillies, which F 2 were

[ 44.11] were begun to be worked at two and three years old, made, in the team, a[how of ftrength without any reality. Now that the uſe of two horſe ploughs is almoſt univerſally in- troduced, farmers have diſcovered the impropriety of work- ing young horſes. The practice at preſent of breeding horſes, is entirely in the hands of wealthy farmers, who Keep ſtout mares, and procure proper ſtallions for them. The breed of horſes, formerly reared in the county, did not riſe higher than from 13 to 15 hands. This laſt ſize 15 the one ſtill moſt approved of, eſpecially for plowing; but the black coloured horſe, even of 16 hands high, is preferred in the cart, for any draught. Prices from L. 12 to L.309.----. The food commonly given them in winter 15 oats, beans, and hay, but chießy ſtraw, eſpecially of peaſe and beans. In the neighbourhood of breweries and diſtilleries great quantities of grai/dt are uſed. In a few places bruiſed Hoots of furze are given to horſes, who ſeem not to diſreliſh them. Potatoes well waſhed, and ſliced or bruiſed, are given raw, generally at ſupper. This prattice ſeems to be increaſing. -„=Cut clover is univerſfally given to horſes in ſummer, and ſeems to be the food upon which they thrive beſt; un- Jeſs for quick going. The firſt crop of clover is kept on to be mowed for horſes, till that part of the field that was frſt cut, is ready for a ſecond cutting. In dry weather a ſüb- ſtitute is much wanted between the two cuttings of clover. To ſupply the deficiency, tares have been employed; but the ſpring in genera) is ſo wet, as to occaſion the tares to be late ſowed, in which caſe they are not ſo ſoon ready for the ſcythe, as could be wilhed. Clover, oa the Carſe-lands, riſes much thicker than on lighter ſoils, and the ſecond cut- ting is often as heavy as the firſt. A third cutting, beſides a little after graſs, is ſometimes got from the beit. ſoils. Far- mers, in this county, univerſally Jook upon the introduction of clover, eſpecially to uſe as green food. for horſes, as one of the beſt of modern improvements.--Horſes in the height 6 ſummer are allowed to paſture a few hours in the night-
zime; but all good farmers take them into the houſe be- tween

[8454]
tween ſun rifing ard ſun ſetting, to prevent them from be- ing tormented with flies and other inſeds. They are fed with clover, and the manure they produce 1s of confide- rable valve. The ſmall farmers, till within theſe 20 years, gave their horſes no other food, in the ſummer ſeaſon, than thiſtles pulled from the growing corn, together with ſome coarſe grafles, cut with the ſickle from the ditches, and uncultivated patches of land. Many of them were al- lowed to range upon a bare piece of zom:nal graſs, where no feeds had ever been ſowed, and where the land had been wholly exhaufted by repeated crops of cats.
Cattle. Very few cattle are reared in the county. The inhabitants are well ſupplied by dealers, who, from the North and Weft Highlands, which are entirely breeding di- ſtridts, and in the near neighbourhood, drive cattle, of all ſorts and ages, throngh every part of the county, for at leaſt three months in the year. The greateſt market for cattle in the iſland 1s held at Falkirk, three times a-year, in Au- guſt, September, and Of&ober. They are commonly called the Try/!s of Falkirk, and have been frequented paſt all re- cord. The fair in October is the greateſt. From 30,000 to 50,000 head of cattle'are then uſually ſhowed in the courſe of a week. Many of them are brought from the remoteſt parts of the highlands and iſlands; and ſome from the low country. One may ſee, in the ſame field, cattle offered to ſale from 158. to L. 25 value. The diſtillers and farmers in Scotland generally truſt to the Falkirk September and O&ober fairs for the purchaſe of half fat cattle, the feeding of which they complete in the courſe of winter. The ſize moſt approved of, for this purpoſe, commonly ſells from L. 6 to L. 12.
The value of paſture graß, in the vicinity of this market, is greatly enhanced, owing to a competition amongſt the drovers to take fields, eſpecially thoſe that are well fenced, where they depoſit their cattle a few days before the mar- ket; and, if purchaſers do not appear, they keep them on.
be

1 246.-19
the field ſome time longer. If it ſhould happen that the cat- tle are not ſold, which indeed is ſeldom the caſe, they are afterwards driven ſouthward, at the riſk of their owners. It is believed that the additional value derived to the paſtures, within one mile of the place where the market 15 held, may amount to at leaſt one fourth of the rent. A ſmall tax is Paid, to the owner of the moor on which the cattle ſtand du- ring the fair. The quality of the ſoil, though naturally poor, is evidently improving by the tread and dung of the cattle; and although the preſent ground has not been ſo oc- cupied above ten years, one now ſees fine graſs rifing plenti- fully, where nothing but heath and barcenneſs formerly pre- vailed.--At theſe fairs are likewiſe ſold a conſiderable num- ber of ſheep, with which a. part of the Highlands is now tocked. The ſale both of cattle and ſheep has, of late years, been on the increaſe.
Milch Cows.=-In the upland parts of the county are ſeve- ral dairy farms. The breed hitherto moſtly encouraged is a ſmall, ill-looking cow, very hardy, and that commonly yields in ſummer from 3* to 7 Engliſh gallons of milk per day.- The Ayrſhire breed of milch cows, 15, for the dairy, now preferred by many farmers, and is Spreading very faſt through the country. Few of the. calves are reared, being moltly ſold to the butcher. The milk 15 manufa&ured into butter and cheeſe. Much improvement is wanted in the making of cheeſe. The curd is not ſufliciently prepared; too little ſalt is mixed with it; and proper preſſes are not in general uſe. Cheeſe of the beſt quality made here, 1s ſold to the dealers at from 244. to 3 d. per pound Englilh; the cheeſe 1s weighed and delivered in the months of O(to- ber or November. A poorer kind 1s ſold for 2 d. and 15 weighed and delivered at the ſame time with the other. Butter in great quantities is alſo made in the dairy, during the ſummer and beginning of autumn. It 15 generally ſold freſh to Glaſgow, Stirling, and Falkirk markers, and to the - neighbouring manufa&uring villages. The price is commonly
from 8 d. to 15. per pound of 22 ounces Engliſh. In autumn the

iE 97.4
the butter is generally ſfalted up in wooden or earthen veſ- ſe1s, and ſent to Edinburgh, Glaſgow, and other markets. Both the plunge and barrel churns are uſed 3 but in general the plunge churn is preferred. The whole'operation of churning is performed by manual labour; and almoſt uni- verſally the cream alone 1s employed in making butter. What of the butter-milk is not conſumed in the farmer's family, is either ſold to the labourers and manufacturers in the neighbourhood, or ſent in ſmall barrels to market. A few gentlemen give the butter-millk: and whey to their hogs, but this pradice does not ſeem to gain ground. Farmers con- ſume alſo the whey in their families, or ſell it as they do the butter-milk. The profits of theſe two articles are generally allowed to the farmer's daughter, or dairy maid, who finds herſelf in ribbons and other orhaments for ſhowing herſelf to advantage in church and market. Many of them, how- ever, very laudably allow a part of theſe profits to accumu- late, in order thereby to provide themſelves in bedding and other articles, for taking up houſe at marriage.
In the management of the dairy, the cows are miked three times a-day in the height of the ſeaſon. It is much to be wiſhed, that cleanlineſßs were more attended to in the operations of the dairy. The kind of fuel burned in the houſe, where butter and cheeſe are made, is eafßly diſcover- ed by the taſte of theſe two articles. Although peat makes 2 pleaſant fire, yet its flavour is not conſidered as a valuable addition to the taſte of butter and cheeſe.
Formerly the only veſſels employed for holding milk were of wood; and not being always carefully rinſed, and kept clean, communicated a diſagreeable taſte to the milk. At preſent the cleanlieſt dairy women are bringing earthen veſſels into uſe; and, in ſome places, wooden veſſels, lined with lead, are employed for holding milk. It is generally believed, however, that wooden veſſels, when kept clean and well ſeaſoned, are of all others the beſt for the dairy.
The richeſt paſtures in the county are appropriated for milch cows; eſpecially in the neighbourhood of towns and
manufatturing

1-8 1
nmanufaturing villages. The ſummer food of a cow 15 often bargained for, at a price from 309(ſhillings t0 three guineas. Cows are commonly allowed to paſlure in the mornings and evenings, and through the whole night. Some attentive farmers give cut clover to their cows during the middle of the day; and, in places where clover does not abound, cab- bages and other green food, the produce of the garden, are given them. Cattle by being thus kept in the houſe and fed in the middle of the day, in the hot ſeaſon of the year, are happily preſerved from being tormented with flies and other cauſes of uneaſineſßs to which they are expoſed, when in the öpen fields, in the heat of the day. Labourers and (mall farmers, in the neighbourhood of diſtilleries and brew- erles, purchaſe graus and waſh, and other refuſe of theſe works, for their cows, both in ſummer and winter. Too many of the farmers permit their cows and other cattle to wander about their farms in winter, ſeeking their food, very little of which is to be found. By this means, the ſurface of the ground is greatly damaged by poaching. In general the only food given to milch cows in winter, is oat and barley ſtraw: and in ſpring, or about calving time, a little coarſe meadow bay. TLuraips are much wanted for the food of milch cows in winter and ſpring, and intelligent farmers are alſo wiſhing for fome green crop that may be preſerved, for the uſe of their ſtock, from tbe beginning of April to the middle of May. Swe- diſh turnips have been tried; but the root of that plant 15 of 0 hard a texture, that cattle, eſpecially milch cows, will rather ſtarve almoſt than attempt to chew it.
The annual produce of a goodcow, in butter, cheeſe and other articles, is ſuppoſed to riſe from L, 5 to L. 12. All manner of breeds of cows have been tried. The largeſt kinds are now univerſally diſuſed, and that for two reaſons; the ſuperior quantity and quality of food which they re- quire; and the wetneſs of the climate, which occaſions the land to be much poached by the tread of fuch heavy cattle. The kind that has been much approved of by many peo- ple, for ſome years paſt, is a croſs of the largeſt Highlander,
L with

[. 249: 37
with the Guernſey or Alderney breed. The fize may be gueßſled by ſaying, that the weight of the beſt cows may be from 20 to 23 ſtones, 14 1b. Engliſh per ſtone.
Sheep. A conſiderable part of the moors of this county is paſtured with ſheep, almoſt univerſally of the black-faced kind, uſually denominated the Linton breed. A(ſmall part only of the ftock of the ſheep-farms 15 reared in the county. Farmers provide themſelves from Tweeddale, or the High- lands. They buy in at one year old, and ſell out at three or four; at which time the wedders commonly give from 105. 6d.to 185. per head. A part of the upland in this county af- fords ſo good a bite for ſheep, that wedders have been fatted on the mountain of Benlomond, at the height of 2300 feet above the level of the ſea, and ſold for 205. a-piece. The pa- ſturing by ſheep, upon theſe high grounds, has evidently, in the courſe of 20 years. paſt, improved the quality of the herbage, ſo as to raiſe graſs of a good ſpecies, and in very conſiderable abundance, where nothing formerly prevailed, but bad kinds of graſs, and theſe in no great plenty: and the pradice bids fair to baniſh heath from all the places that are paſtured by heep. An acre and a half of this upland paſture are required to make a wedder fat. It 1s likewiſe remarked, that the hills of Campfie, Fintry and the neigh- bourhood,'which have been paſtured by ſheep for almoſt half a century paſt, are much improved in the quality of the graß, and the heath is gradually diſappearing. In that part of the county which is laid out in ſIheep-walks, 2a con- fiderable ſtock of milch-cows is always Kept; and a large portion of the rents of theſe farms is paid by the produce of the dairy. One noble proprietor, the Duke of Mont- roſe, is now making experiments 40 aſcertain which of the breeds of ſheep is beſt adapted, and moſt valuable for this di- trit. His exertions, in this important article of huſbandry, are likely to be crowned with ſucceſs. He ſeems to prefer, up- .on the whole, the Bakewell, or Cully.breed, as they are called in the north of England, The lambs, for two years paſt, have
G&G beer

[.%0 I
been ſold from his Grace's farm, to the Glaſgow and Paiſ- ley butchers, at from 15 s. to 255. Sterling each.
Sheep in this county are never folded except in a pez, ſurrounded with turf-walls. The fituation of theſe ſmall incloſures is changed every year, and thereby certain por- tions of the ſurface are enriched by what drops from the hbeep. The ſyſtem of ſheep keeping in this part of the country has nat, it is prefumed, been as yet brought to that degree of perfection of which it is capable. A better ſy- ſtem of management, it is.to be hoped, will ſoon be intro- duced. Many of the farms, at preſent partially ſtocked with ſheep, are admirably ſuited for growing turnips; and as the leaſes of theſe farms are nearly expired, and the greateſt Part of that ſoit of land being the Property of the noble Perſon above mentioned, it is expetted that a proper ſyſtem, reſpetting theſe important points, will be introduced, and fields fit for the culture of turnips will be properly incloſed. An example of this kind is at leaſt as neceſlary in this coun- ty», 25 in any other within the iſland.
Goats. It appears by the valuation of lands in the middle of laſt century, that Benlomond, with the whole of the Vp- land part of the pariſh of Buchanan, was almoſt entirely ſtocked with goats. A conſiderable portion of the rents in theſe days conſiſted of kids, and goat-milk cheeſe. Very few of that ſpecies of ſtock are now kept in the county.
Deer. Fallow-deer have, for more than a century paſt, inhabited, in great numbers, two of the beautiful iſlands which adorn Lochlomond. The ſtock upon one of theſe iſlands amounts to 240 of all ages, and furniſhes the Duke os Montroſe with veniſon of the beſt quality, being not on- 1y fat, but peculiarly diſtinguiſhed for its admwirable flavour. His Grace takes the beſt precaution for ſupplying them with winter food; and the ftock is on the increaſe. The illand is well wooded, and affords the moſt perfe& ſhelter from every ſtorm. Here, as well as on the reſt of the .) lands,

[ST 3
ilands, ſnow ſeldom lies long, as the ſurface of the loch is not higher than 14 feet-above the level of the ſea.
Swzane. Very little attention has been paid tothe breed of this uſeful animal... Farmers in general do not reckor ſwine a valuable part of ſtock. Several proprietors, how- ever, have introduced the Chineſe breed, which is now pre- ferred to all others as the moſt profitable. None 1s imore eaſily fed; none produces better ſucking pigs; the pork is of the beſt quality; and when ſmoaked, the hams and ba- con are not ſurpaſſed by any. This valuable breed has been acquired, in the greateſt purity, by the attention of ſe- veral Eaſt India captains belonging to this county, who have imported, in their own ſhips, the original kind diredtly from China. The large Hamplhire hog is to be found at all the diſtilleries, where a few of them are fattened. The moſt approved method to fatten hogs 1s, in general, to carry them on for 6'or 8 weeks on boiled potatoes, bran, and the refuſe of corn-mills: after which time 2 or 3 weeks are neceſlary to complete the fattening of them with oats and
peaſe. The fize, when fat, is commonly from go to 160 Ib. Engliſh.
WOOD.
Coppices. In this county are many coppices that have been uſed as ſuch paſt al memory. Torwood in the pa- riſh of Dunipace, and the wood of Callender in the pariſb of Falkirk, are generally believed to be the remains of the Caledonian foreſt, with which the greateſt part of this coun- try, when the Romans invaded Scotland, ſeems to have been covered. The trees are principally oak, beech, hazel and birch. Some of the oaks, when allowed to remain, riſe to a great ſize. Of this the county affords ſeveral ex- amples. The moſt noted tree in the whole diftri&t was Wa-
GZ 4 Jace's

[52 JI
Jace's oak, in the middle 6f the famous Torwood. This tree, which, when entire, meaſured 12 feet diameter*, af- forded in its wunk, bollowed by age, a ſeaſonable ſhelter, in an hour of danger, to the hero whoſe name it bears, and a company of his brave attendants, when ſtruggling'for the liberty of their country. A few ſmall decaying frägments only are all the remains that are now to be ſeen of this ve- nerable oak; and even theſe will ſoon be eradicated from the Torwood, 25 the virtuoßi, in ſeveral parts of the king« dom, are picking them all up, and forming them into va- rious devices for the glorious memory of the ever-celebra- ted Wallace.
Owing to the great advance in. tbe price of bark, during the laſt 20 years, the growth of the oak 13 more attended to than that ef any other ſpecies of wood. The moſt careful proprietors of natural woods leave /?andards, almoft always of oak, which grow to be valuable timber-trees, and do little injury to the coppices in which they grow. This. pratice ſeems to be gaining ground. Callender wood, con« ſſting of about 250 acres, has for ſome time paſt been treated in ſuch a way, as to,allow it to run wholly into large timber. The natural wood in the countymay conſiſt of 1350 acres. The profits ariſing from them may be annual- 1y from 8 s. to 25 8. Per acre. The value of many of them might be greatly increaſed, by paying proper attention to the fences by which they are incloſed; not permitting at any time cattle or ſheep to paſture in them; and by ſur- face open drains to carry: off the ſuperfluous water, which at preſent leſſens the value of that kind of property very much, eſpecially where the oak abounds. The Eller, (Betula alaus), is the moſt unprofitable of all the trees which compoſe the coppices. It, commeonly ſucceeds beſt in Jands that are moiſt. The willow ſeems to delight in tbe carſe-lands, where it. grows to a great ſize. Upon the hole, the oak, the aſh and the beech, are the trees moſt va-
IJuable in this county. Plantatons.
*. Statiſtical Hiſtory of Scotland, vol. 3. p+ 336-

55 1
Plantations. Great attention has been paid, eſpecially during the laſt 30 years, in rearing timber of all kinds. Plantations for ſhelter, ornament and profit, form a confide- rable part of the improvement of the many eſtates, which have been incloſed and improved, during that period. The moſt of improvers, 39 years ago, formed their belts of plan- tatiops for ſhelter, by far too narrow. They were general- 1y from 15 to 309 feet in breadth.. It ſeems now to be an opinion univerſally received, that no belt of plantation for Ihelter, eſpecially in the upland parts of the county, the whole of which 15 very much expoſed to the violence of the ſouth-weſt winds, ought to be leſs than from 609 to 120 feet broad. Several well direted plantations in this way have been made by the Duke of Montroſe; and likewiſe by Mr Ramſay, on his eſtate of Sauchile, which borders on an exten- ſive moor, not leſs than 20 miles long, ſtretching to the ſouth- welt. About five or fix years ago, a great fringe of planta- tion, ſeveral hundred yards in depth, and exceeding one mile in length, has been formed,'and will, it is believed, have the effe& to improve the climate in that expoſed quar- ter ofthe country. The kinds of trees there planted are oak, aſh, and beech, with various pines, eſpecially the larch, which, at 7 years old, raiſes its lofty head, nearly double the height of any other tree of the pine kind. No plantation. has as yet, in this county, been formed of.larches only; but ſeveral proprietors are ſo much-convinced of the ſuperiority of this tree to every other of the fir-kind, that they are re- ſolved to make plantations of larches alone. This va- Inable exotic, has, at Killearn the property of the Lord Chief Baron for Scotland, grown toa ſize not probably ex- ceeded by the ſame ſpecies of tree in any part of Britain, The trees were planted about 50 years ago; they are now about 100 feet in height, and ſeveral of them meaſure 3 feet diameter. The ſpruce, beech, and ſome other ſpecies of trees, have, at Killearn, riſen to 2 great ſfize.--The ground. covered by plantations, excluſive of hedge-rows, may in the county, amount to about 2200 acres.
M A4<

MANUFACTURE S.
Tron. One of the moſt- celebrated foundries in Europe was eſtabliſhed 35 years ago, on the banks of the river Carron, in this county. The cheapneſ of fuel,(pit-coal), was probably the cauſe of fixing that great mannufa&ory in this diftrit. The benefit of water-carriage muſt alſo have been an additional inducement.--The raw materials em- ployed in theſe works are various kinds of ironſtone and limeſtone, brought from different parts of Scotland; and jron-ore from Lancaſhire and Weſtmoreland. During the firlt 25 years of this eſtablihhment, the coals were got in the immediate vicinity of the works, in no inſtance exceeding one mile of carriage, and that upon waggon-ways. With- in theſe laſt 19 years, the Company has found it neceſlary to bring their fuel from collieries at the diſtance of 6 miles. The quality of the coals is excellent, and the ſupply abun- dant. The confumption may probably exceed 1009 tons a-week. The quantity of the other materials is uncertain. The number of workmen and labourers in the employ of "The articles ma-
this Company probably exceeds 9020. nufadured are canon of all ſizes, mortars, ſhells, ſhot, and other implements of war. One ſpecies of guns,(ſhort ones), has at this foundry been improved ſo much in their con- trudtion, as to have acquired the name of Carronades. Im- menſe boilers, cylinders, water-pipes, ſtoves, and grates of every deſcription, ballaſt for ſhips, and almoſt,every article in the caſt iron way, and many of hammered iron, have al- ſo been fabricared with great ſucceßs at theſe extenſive works. The blaßt-furnaces are no fewer than five. In- ſtead of ſupplying the quantity'of air neceſſary for theſe furnaces, by the uſual mode of large bellows made of lea- «her, this Company introduced the uſe of large iron cylin- ders, the operation of which, in forcing air into the fur- 2 NACCS,

[4 564.2 3]
naces, produces an effe& tremenduous to every ſpedator, and that to a degree more eafßly conceived than expreſſed.--- The river Carron, it was believed, would have afforded 2 continual ſuppl3 of water at all ſeaſons, for moving the ex- tenſive and complicated machinery of theſe works; butin order to procure the neceſſary quantiry in a dry ſummer, an immenſe fire-engine has been ereded, which raiſes the„ſpent water, and throws it back into the reſervoir, where it is again employed in the neceſſary works of this great found- ry. At firſt4he chief part of the workmen were Engliſh, brought down at a great expence from Warwickſhire, Staf- fordſhire and Shropſhire. At preſent almoſt the whole of the workmen are Scotch.--Many veſſels of ſmall bur- den are employed by the Company, in importing ironſtone, &c. They have alſo occaſion to freight many veſlels of larger burden, to tranſport the heavy articles of their manu- fa&ure, eſpecially guns, mortars, hot and ſhells, both to the river Thames, and foreign parts, ſuch as Spain, Ruſlia, 8c.
"The making of Naz.ls was, till about 20 years 290, carried on upon a large ſcale by this Company; but ſince that time, one gentleman, formerly a partner of the Company, has, by agreement,(as it is believed), with his former partners, condu&ed that branch entirely upon his own account. The number of men employed in:this manufä&ure probably ex ceeds 150. They are diſperſed in villages,&c. chiefly in the vicinity of;the collieries.-The. maſter-manufadurer delivers out the iron by weight, in ſmall rods, ſlit at his mill; from which rods the nails are fabricated, and return- ed by the workmen to the maſter-manufa&urer, alſo by weight.--Beſides this great adventurerin the nailery-branch, there are ſeveral othermaſter-manufadurers, with ſmaller ca- pitals, who employ perhaps 10 or 20 hands a-plece: their buſineſs is-conduded on the ſame plan.
Woollen, Coarſe fabrics of wool have been long manufac- tured in Stirling, and its neighbourhood. The village of Ban- nockburn, 2 miles ſouth of Stirling, has, for many years, been
famous

[: 356 I
famous for the weaving of Tartar, the celebrated garb of the Scottiſh Highlanders. It js believed that the whole tartan employed for plaids, hoſe,&c. of the many battallions of Highlanders in the Britiſh army, 15 manufadured in this village. The wool, of which it 1s made, is brought prin- cipally from the counties of Peebles and Roxburgh: it is ſpun and dyed chiefly in the town of Stirling, and the im- mediate vicinity, where the dyers have been long famous for their dexterity.=-Carpets are alſo a conſiderable article of the woollen manufa&ure; but confined to the town of Stirling- The kind of carpets is what is generally called the Scotch; and riſes in price from 25. to 4 5. a-yard.=-A few years ago the manufacturers of Stirling introduced a coarſe and thin ſpecies of woollen cloth, very much wore by gentlemen in the ſummer ſeaſon; and which, from the place where invented, was called Störlingette. The wear was found to be unprofitable, and the caprice of faſhion ſoon drove it out of vogue.--Serge, a coarſe kind of wool- len cloth, is manufa&ured every where about Stirling; the price from 10 d. to 15. 64. per yard.
Cotton.. Several mils, on 2 large ſcale, and upon Sir Richard Arkwright's principle, have been ere&ed in this county. Unfortunately the great depreſſion of all opera- tions in manufa&ures, in the year 1793, did not a little damp the ſpirit of all buſineſs in this county; inſomuch that it js believed, not above two-thirds of the number of hands employed in the valuable manufadure of cotton, prior to the beginning of that year, are at preſent in full work.--- There 35 at Ballikinrain, in the parilh of Killearn, a ſmall mill for the woollen branch. It is conſtru&ed nearly on che ſame principles with the cotton ones. This undertakKk- ing is believed to go on pretty ſucceſsfully. Not ſo does an extenſive przztfield, eſtabliſhed three years ago, upon the ſame river. The whole country in the vicinity of theſe works looks with an ardent deſire for the re-eſtabliſhment and

MN.%7 0
and farther extenſion of theſe valuable manufätures, which the liberal and daring ſpirit of a reſpe&able individual had ere&ed upon his eſtate; by that means caufiag, by his well- dire&ed efforts, a country, which, ſeven years ag0, had als moſt the appearance of a wilderneſs, to aſſume a new face. He made handſome buildings to ſpring up in every quar- ter. Theſe were immediately filled with ative and enter- priſing inhabitants.'Agriculture reared its head, and the whole difri&(miled with cultivation, till the unfortunate change in 1793. Time, it 1s hoped, will diflipate theſe clouds which overhang that part of the county, and reſtore induſtry to its proper tone.
Linen. The manufa&ure of linen, principally of a coarſe quality, has been eſtabliſhed for half a century paſt in various parts of this county. The cloth is, in general, low-priced, from 1 5. to 25. 3 d. der yard. A few bleachfields are e- Mtabliſhed, where the linen is whitened and dreſſed, both in the Scotch and Iriſh methods; but in general, the weavers, who work each upon his own account, diſpoſe of their webs as. ſoon as they come out of the loom, to ready money traders. Theſe deaters underſtand too well their ad- vantage over the poor Weaver, who, in want of money for be fübfiſtence of his family, is frequently compelled to Part with his web much beneath its value.
Printfields. There are four printfields, beſides the one already mentioned, eſtabliſhed in the county. One has been unfortunate z; but the three others have weathered the ftorm of 1793, and appear to proſper.
The advantages of theſe eſtabliſhments to the eſtates up- on which they are ſettled, and alſo to the adjoining lands, are undoubted. The farmers in the neighbourhood com- plain of the advance of wages claimed by their ſervants and 1labourers, who alſo expet to live better. But an at- tentive obſerver, weighing accurately the advantages and diſadvantages of theile manufadures to the part of the coun-
H try

[* 52/4
try where they are eſtabliſhed, will ſce that the great addi- xional price, and the ready money market for almoſt every „article produced upon a farm, do more than compenſate „(excluſive-of the advantage of manure,&c.) the riſe in the price of labour complained of by the ſhort-ſighted farm- er. It muſt, however, be obſerved, that in 4791 and 1792, when many new. eſtablilhments in the manufaCuring way» were firlt formed in various parts of this county,-too fan- 'guine hopes of the profits likely to ariſe from theie adven- tures, were entertained by many of the Proprietors; In con- ſequence of which they daſhed out perbaps too much, both in their manner of living, and in their holding out high wages to dextrous workmen. This being alfo accompanied by rather a heedleſs expenditure in. other articles, was the real cauſe why many of theſe new operations did not ſuc- ceed. But it is believed by many diſcerning people, that ſome branches of manufa&ure, which failed in the hands of che firſt adventurers, from the reaſons above Rated, will be revived by other perſons of more ſkill, and a greater ſhare of prudence, and will become a bleſſing to thoſe parts of the county where they(ſhall be proſecuted,"eſpecially in
„certain diftri&ts, where there was a ſcarcity of inhabitants,
and almoſt 2 total abſence of induſtry. The machinery ne-
«celary for carrying on great adventures in the way of ma-
nufa&ures, is much aſſiſted by“the numerous ſtreams of war
ter which abound in all the upland parts of this county.
Diſtilleries. Great quantities of corns of all ſorts are
.conſumed in the manufa&ure of ſpirits in this county. Be-
ßides the well-known ſpirit called WAz/kze, ſeveral com- pounds, as rum, brandy, gin,&c. are prepared atthe nume- rous diſtilleries. The agriculture of the farms around theſe works ſeems to derive conſiderable advantages from the great abundance of manure produced by the cattle fattened by the diſtillers. The general opinion ſeems to be, that
the heavy duties paid by theſe diftillers, have rendered the
profits

bi 30F
profitsof their trade very precarious,"The chief advanta« ges are ſuppoſed to ariſe from the cattle which they bring- to market; and as theſe are ſold at 2 ſeaſon when butcher-- "meat bears the higheſt price, the returns muſt be conſide- rable.--Farmers, in the vicinity of the diſtilleries, believing that their ſervants and labourers are hurt by the ſpirits, which they procure at a low rate from their neighbours, by no means covet the ſervices of ſuch perſons as have aſſiſt ed in any of theſe works, where they are apt to acquire an appetite for liquor, with other bad habits-
OBST ACLES TO IMPROVEMENT.
The farmers in.this county poſſeſs their own ſhare of at=- tachment to old cuſtoms. This holds ſo univerſally over the whole Iſland, that thefe prejudices can on!y be lament- ed.--It has happened that, in proportion to the extent of this diſtri&t, fewer exertions have been made by farmers, that is to ſay, by perſons occupying land not their own Property, than in almoſtany other ſhire in Scotland. Se- veral gentlemen who are proprietors, have made conſide- rable efforts, and tried to introduce new modes of agricul- ture, which have been adopted in part, though ſlowly, by the neighbouring farmers. But, in general, theſe enterpri- ſing proprietors, found themſelves obliged to import ſer- vants from other countries to condu& and carry their plans into execution.
Perhaps one cauſe why improvements have advanced ſo Nlowly in this county is, the /zmal/neſs of the farms.. No other reaſon than old cuſtom can be aſſigned for it.-A laudable ſpirit of Frugality. abounds amongſt the whole far- mers; but, ſtrange to tell! a perſon who ſees the advantage, and reaps it too, of attention to the proper culture of his farm, upon balancing his accounts at the end of the Year, and finding a conſiderable ſurplus at his diſpoſal, inſtead of
H 2 adding

[7| 69m]
adding it to his farming. flock, although the terms.of his leaſe may. be exceedingly favourable, and the endurance of it ever, ſo long, he feels a. timidity. or want of. enterpriſe, which prevents him from expending his money in the pur- chaſe of manure, or other means of improvement, and en- quires, Who is the, /z/e/?-hand in the neighbourhood, with whom he may depoſit his pittance of caſh?--In. four cafes out of five, it has happened, that the poor farmer's confidence has been improperly placed. A few years after, his debtor appears in the Gazette, and' away fly the hardly earned ſavings of the unlucky peaſant, who blames his want of / foreſight, and wiſhes,(when wiſhes are vain), that he had laid out his money in the improvement of his fields, which would have amply repaid him for his trouble. It is to be Jamented, that the many loſſes in this way have not opened the eyes of the unfortunate ſufßferers, Time alone can cure this evil. 5 Proprietors are themſelves to blame, in-many inſtances, for the(low progreis which improvements have made in "this quarter. It is well known, that as ſoon as any farm 13 out of leaſe, twenty people come clamouring after it, offer- ing high rents, much more than the land can in fairneſs af- ford to pay. A covetous or an ignorant laird, flattered with the promiſe of a high rent, cloſes with him who dzds the Largeſt ſum of money. There cannot be a greater miſtake in the management of an eſtate: A rent-roll zpoz paper 13 no better than a zmouthful of moonfhine, as the credulous proprietor generally finds. Many points are neceflary to be well weighed before an eſtate ought to be relet, eſpecial 15 conſidering the ſituation in which almoſt all the eſtates in Scotland,(let thirty or forty years ago), are found at the expiry of the leaſes. It is alfo neceflary to mention one unfortunate circumſtance in the management of many eſtates in this county, chiefly thoſe which are the property of abſentees. It is too often the prattice of theſe owners, to commit the entire management of their affairs to mez of zhe law, writers, attornies, or by whatſoever name one chnuſes to

iq. as]
to.call them. Theſe perſons are almoſt.univerſally. ignorant of: country: buſinels; their whole merit with their conſti- tuents conüfts in the.regularity: with which they: colle& the rents.. This is oft. times very uſeful, but when univerſal- 1y pra&iſed,(without attending to perſons and.circumſlan« ces), becomes a nniſance. As to modes of culture, the ſtate of buildings, fences, roads,&c. all of them points of. very great importance, mighty little attention is. paid. A law- ſuit is 2 notable advantage to them; which they ſeldom fail to generate, by. coercing tenants, irritating neighbours, and by other methods much eafier felt than expreffed. OF this improper ſyſtem. of. management, ſundry famous inſlances are to be found in this county«.
Upon a careful examination of the many and various courſes of huſbandrz attempted to be eſiabliſhed by pro- Pprietors amongſt their tenants, it is confidently believed, that none can be ſo certainly relied upon for accompliſhing the purpoſe intended, than binding the tenant, by his leaſe, to preſerve a certain proportion of his farm,(according to ſoil and climate), coz/anrtly in graß, and to leave it ſo at his removal. This, enforced by a ſuitable penalty per acre, in the event of- deviating from the plan laid down, ſeems to be the ze plus ultra of a proprietor's care.--It is ſaid by Jawyers that effe& will be given in a court of juſtice to a ſyſtem of this nature; but upon this ſubje& we muſt wait with patience for my Lord Judges deciſion.
Upon the whole, the advantages to cultivators to ſettle in this diſtri&t, eſpecially in the lower parts of it, are manifeſt- 1y great.--Every article of produce fetches a high price; and finds ajready ſale.'In many caſes it is not even neceſ- ſary to carry the crop to market, the bidders for it are ſo numerous, that they often vome to the barn-doors and offer for the corn before it 15 threſhed out, and afterwards tranſ- port it themſelves- without giving'the farmer any. trouble. „-With reſpet to /abour, wages are not high compared with other counties of Scotland; and in all the ſeaſons when additional hands- are required; fuch as /eed-tzme, hay
3 making,

62" 1
making, hand-hoeing, and in corn harveſt, the many well pea- pled manufa&uring villages turn out numbers of inhabi- tants, who execute the farmers work at a moderate rate.
In a country poſſeſſed of theſe advantages, the land own- ers have a right to look for a ſuperior cultivation of their eſtates, and of courſe an advance of rents, which the farmer will be better enabled to pay, by the improved ſyſtems of huſbandry that may be introduced from other diſtri&s, eſpe-- cially from that part of Perthſhire called the Carſe of Gow- rie, where the ſvil, no ways ſuperior to that on the banks of the Forth, is rendered greatly more produdttive by the exer- tions and attention of the farmers, although in that quarter they labour under many diſadvantages, both in the acquifi- tion of manure and fuel, and(what 15 of greater impor- tance) in the limited demand, and conſequently inferior price for the produce of their farms.
Moors. The ſoil of theſe extenſive waſtes ſcems capa- ble of very little improvement in the way of huſbandry. Three important objedions to their culture may be fairly Itated. 77/2, The zhznnefßs of the foil, chiefy owing to the execrable cuſtom, prevalent in Scotland for centuries paſt, of ſkinning or paring off the ſurface or upper ſtratum of the ſoil, in order to employ the turf in covering cottages, or for- building folds or temporary fences for the cattle or iheep of the farmers adjoining theſe moors. The implement with which that miſchievous piece of work 1s executed, has by many thinking perſons been moſt appolſitely denominated <« the curſe of Scotland."'Second/y, The number of large fixed ſtones 1ying on the ſurface of theſe waſtes, the greateſt part of which can only be moved by the force of gun pow- der. And, third/y, The general wetneſs of the ſurface, which occaſions fo great an expence in making drains, as to Place the improvement of theſe ſoils out of the reach of any prudent cultivator. The only rational plan of im- provement for the extenſive part of this county now in ihe condition of moors, appears clearly to be that of con- 2 verting

1.08 7
verting them into plantations. It has been noticed is the courſe of this report, that woods of all ſorts, coppzces, &c. pay to the proprietors an exceeding good rent, and even where the timber 1s allowed to grow to a large ſize, Falls of that article make a good return. This is chiefly owing to the vicinity of water-carriage to almoſt every eſtate in the county, which tranſports the produd to diſtant markets at a ſmall expence, the demand in the internal parts of the county, for timber of every kind, being extremely limited. To this ſyflem one diſadvantage which exiſts prin- cipally in the higher parts of the ſhire, muſt be mentioned, that in heavy falls of ſhow, which happen(perhaps) one winter in three, the flocks of ſheep, with which the moors and high lands adjoining to them are chiefly ftocked, make their way, by the aſliſtance of the ſnow drifted againſt the walls forming the fences of ſuch plantations,(let the height be what it may), and whatſoever plantations theſe animals get into, run a riſque of being(and ſeveral have been) en- tirely deſtroyed, the ſheep nipping off the tops and whole young ſhoots of the plants, from which injury they never recover."The poor hares alſo in ſnow do conſiderable da- mage to the plantations: Their method 1s to ſkin the young trees as high as they can reach. This prevents the ſap from riſing, and is equally fatal as the other to the ſucceſs of the planter's labours.
Peat-Moſſes. Of the many peat-moſſes in this county ſome have been formed in the carf/es or low grounds ad- Joining to rivers. The general thickneſs of the moſly ſoil is from 3 to 6 feet. The ſoil underneath the moſs is equal- 1y good with that of the adjoining lands, v2z. a rich and im- proveable clay, ſo valuable that where the ſtratum of moſs can be entirely removed, the ſubſfoil may be inſtantly let from 20 5. to 30 8. per acre.--Various methods of remo- ving the moſß have been tried. The one moſt approved, and now univerſally prattiſed where attainable, is to foat it oF by the aſliſtance of a ſlream of water introduced from
the

1 044
the higher grounds. The wazue of ſuch water to the pro- prietor of the moſs is great indeed, and much ingennuity Has been employed to introduce and condutt the ſtream in ſuch a manner as to carry off the greateſt poflible quantity of moß, which ſeeks its way into the tide river, where it ſoon diſappears. Land owners find their'account in letting out the ſurface of their moſſes to indigent occupiers, without ex- ading'any rent for a conſiderable number of years. Theſe poor people work extremely hard, perhaps, beyond any day-labourer whatſoever; being deceived by the illuſory idea of paying zo money out of their. pockets, they value their manual labour very low. Allthis 1s for the benefit of the landlord, the country is improved, and things are daily growing better, which is a comfortable proſped& to a think- ing mind. In the upland parts of the county the peat-moſſes are barren waſtes, unleſs in as far as they furniſh fuel to the adjoining inhabitants; in ſo wretched a ſlate is the ſurface left after the fuel is removed, that nothing ſhort of the erec- tion of a Balbec or a Palmyra in the neighbourhood, could* render the ſoil of any farther value,