GENERAL VIEW OF THE AÄAGCKIOVLTURE OE THE COUNTY OF KINROSS. GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGCRICULHTURE COUNTY OFKINROSS. THE REVEREND DAVID URE, MINISTER OF UPLALTL, EZZ ZTZ=<==T TG LKKZLK tremely ineffeetual for anſwering the purpoſes for which they were planted; but this is owing to the ignorance, the Noth, or the prejudices of the perſons into whoſe hands the care of rearing them is committed. Many examples of this, were it neceſlary, might be mentioned, from every county in the kingdom. Hedges, however, where they occupy a göod ſoil, and are properly managed, are generally eſteemed the beſt kind of fences. A ſtone dike muſt indeed be acknowledged to be the more immediate fence, as it is complete at once; but a thriving hedge is both a fence and ſhelter. In ſome parts of the county, owing to the climate, and chiefly to want of proper attention, a hedge is very ſlow in growing 3 but when reared, ſerves equally for ſhelter and ornament 3; and this county being much expoſed, and having little advantage from trees, Kands much in need of ſhelter. Several proprietors, how ever, by planting trees on their lands, are providing a re- medy for this evil. In the parilh of Portmoak, and in other Parts, the Galloway dike is much uſed. It is a coarſe, but cheap one; and the ruügged coping of ſtones is an obje& of terror to cattle. Lands ſo encloſed for paſture, let, from year to year, at higher rents, than they would do for tillage, upon 2 leaſe of 19 years. The demands for ſuch encloſure3 con» ünue to increaſe, in proportion to which there is a diminu« tion of the number of farmers in this diftrit. Drazns,--In 4he immediate neighbourhood of the hills D and [ and riſing grounds with which this county is encircled, nu- 20: 1 merous drains are greatly wanted. Some little draining has been donez but a great deal more remains, before theſe lands can be properly improved; and there are few things that more urgently demand the attention of ſome poſſellors of land in theſe parts of the county. Sheep paſture grounds on the bills require many open drains to keep them dry. As they are chießly defigned to carry off ſurface water, they ſhould be narrow and ſhallow, that the lambs may be in no danger of ſuffering. by travelling over them. Were the wet ſpongy parts of theſe ſheep paſtures properly drained in this way, they would thereby be rendered greatly more valuable than at preſent 3; not only by the richer. quality of the grafſes, but the greater ſecurity for the health of the ſheep. Implements of Agriculture.--Vheſe, in this county, have no- thing remarkable about them, ſo as to claim much attention from the public. The old Scotch plough was formerly much uſed, and was drawn by the joint effort of oxen and horſes; ſometimes by two horſes and four oxen, and at other times by two of each. Within theſe eight years this cumbrous imple- ment has been much laid aſide, and the common ſwing ploughs, with Mr. Small's mouldboards of caſt-iron, are now generally ufed, and are drawn by two horſes without a driver. The community is much indebted to the late Mr. Small, that deſervedly celebrated mechanic, for his improvements on ſo neceſlary an implement; for, although he was not the firfr in Scotland who made improvements on the plough, yet un- doubtedly he brought it to a high degree of perfection. One of the firſt valuable alterations in ploughs on the old con« ftrudtion, was made long before Small's time, by Lady Stew- art of Goodtrees, grandmother tothe Right Honourable the Earl of Buchan! She lived for ſome time in-the vicinity of the burgh of Rütherglen, and, amongſt öther agricultural im= provements; [51108 1 provements, invented the Rutherglen plough, an inſtrument well known, and much uſed in the weſt of Scotland. Harrows, Carts,&c.&Gc.--being generally of the ordi- nary conſtruction adopted in the neighbouring counties, and which have been deſcribed in their ſurveys, do not merit a par- ticular deſcription. It may, however, be obſerved, that amongſt a conſiderable number of farmers here, there has of late been 2 ſpirit for introducing all improved implements of huſbandry, whichare adaptedto the ſeveral ſoilsin the diſtri, andthe nature of the crops produced upon them. A ſpirit for agricultural im- provements, if regulated by ſolid judgment, proves highlybene- ficial, not only to the individuals poſleſled of it, but to ſociety at large. Thatwhich has been imbibed in the active and enterpriſ- ing years of youth, bids faireſt for[ucceſs, eſpecially that which has been acquired from the rational converſation and well di- reCted example of intelligent and experimental agriculturiſts. Being thus early eſtabliſhed upon the moſt ſolid baſis, it is not afterwards eaſily permitted to roam after idle fancies, without any foundation of reaſon and experience for its guide; or to engage in extravagantly expenſive ſchemes, which have brought thouſands of adventurers to ruin, and thereby had a great tendency to bring diſcredit on improvements of every kind. It is equally averſe, on the other hand, to reſt ſatisfied with old cuſtoms,- merely becauſe they have been long in practice; or to forbear making an experiment, becauſe it may be attended with labour and expence. Perſons who are bappily poſfſleſſed of this highly commendable turn of mind, are kept from encouraging themſelves in indolence and Noth. They are awake to reaſon, open to conviCion, and always in ſearch of rational improvements, wherever they are to be found. The lovers of agriculture ſhould be at due Pains to in- ſtil into the minds of their pupils a turn for uſeful experl- ments, and endeavour, by their example and converſztion, to D::2 nn“ we Q "6 ENEN IEEE NNN III Än I ÄN 5 26| give them a reliſh for aftivity 3 and&rive to lead them on, it poſlible, to higher degrees of perfe&tion, even in:the moſt im- proved parts of huſbandry. As example 1s better than pre- cept, it will greatly facilitate the work, by taking them, on the one hand, to the field of the fuggard, and pointing out to them the diſgrace and miſery of idleneſs and inattention 3 and ſhowing them, oy the other, the well dreffed farm of the ative and intelligent improver, and the honour and happineſs which are the attendants of manly and well dire&ed exertions. Thraſhing Mills have, although ſparingly, made their ap- pearance in the county, and are conſidered as a valuable im- provement, not only for expediting work, but thrafhing much cheaper and cleaner than by the fail. It is believed that a ſaving of at leaſt one boll out of ſixteen-is made, which is an obje& of great importance, not only to farmers, but to the country at large*. Crops cultivated.--“As more than half of the county is in paſture, and the moſt of that natural, the cultivated crops make but a ſmall figure. Qazs, Barley and Peaſe, have long been the chief crops raiſed in the county. Beans are ſometimes ſown broadcaſt-ways, in the ſtiffer parts of the ſoil, with profit. Theſe, however, and likewiſe peaſe, are conſidered as precarious crops. The returns may, at an average, be ſix for one- Wheat has lately been ſown in ſome places with advantage, but the quantity is extremely ' mall. Clover and Ryegraſi are cultivated, and, when made into hay, find, in the neighbourhood of Kinroſs, 2 ready and profitable market. Conſiderable attention has lately been paid to the raiſing of Turnips; and it is believed that the cul- tivation, * In an experiment made with a thraſhing mill near Edinburgh, when wheat Was at its higheſt price laſt ſeaſon, one boll in eight was ſaved. But theſe mills operate variouſly, according to the proportions of the wheels, and the force em- ployed. Much depends alſo upon the judicious management of the force. [ 25-1 tivation of this valuable cleaning crop will meet with further encouragement, as the ſoil, in moſt places, is well adapted for that branch of huſbandry. Here, as every where elſe in the iſland, Potatoes have proved themſelves to be of the greateſt utility to all/claſſes of perſons. They are much reliſfhed by almoſt all deſcriptions of people, and are not productive of any bad conſequences with reſpe& to health. What adds much to their value, is the rich returns they commonly make, whilſt at the ſame time they are an excellent cleaning crop. They may be prepared for table with the greateſt expedition and eaſe 3; and they conſtitute a principal ingredient in a great variety of diſhes. Beſides the quantities of potatoes raiſed by farmers, almoſt every mechanic and cottager has a piece of potatoe ground, the produce of which makes a confiderable part of his food. Mr. Adam of Maryburgh is ſaid to have been the firſt perſon in the county of Kinroſs, and neighbourhood, who planted potatoes in the open field. Before that period, 2 few plants only were raiſed in gardens, for private uſe.. Not being able to procure a ſufficient quantity of ſeed in this county, nor in the Edinburgh market, Mr. Adam brought at firſt his ſeed potatoes over land from Carliſle. Since that time, the advantages of this uſeful root have often been uni- verſally experienced. Many of the poor, upon particular oc- caſions, had ſcarcely any thing elſe to ſubfſt upon for about two months after the old crop of corn was conſumed, and before the new crop was ready to cut down. * Zint finds encouragement in every farm. Confiderable quantities * The term /int, an exprefſion univerſally uſed in Scotland, is preferable to that of flax, becauſe it is the ancient, and, with a ſmall variation, the eſlab- liſhed, ſcientific name of that ineſtimably valuable plant, the Zinum ufitatiſimum.» To ſay that linen yarn, or linen cloth, is made of lint, is natural and proper 3 but to ſay that they are made of fax, is neither the one nor the other. The Nearer 1 856 3 quantities of it are raiſed, both for family uſe and for the market. This article has, for a long time, deſervedly merit- ed the attention of the public 3; and it has been of an incal- culable benefit to thoſe parts of the country, where its culti- vation and manufa&ture haye been eſtablifhed. It affords many ſtrong inducements to the female part of the commu- nity to be aCtive and thrifty. It leads them to employ, with great advantage, every moment of their time, which can be ſpared at home, from the neceſſary buſineſs of the farm; and wholly preſerves them from that ſauntering and indolent life which is the diſgrace and inconceivable loſs of many diſtricts in the iſland. Women in this county, from 11 or 12 years of age to almoſt the lateſt period of life, are much employed in ſpinning linen yarn, and making webs, part of which clothes the family, and part is ſold to defray the expence of weaving,&c. By this cleanly and eaſy employment, many, who by frailty or old age are totally unfit for the rugged la- bours of the field, or indeed for any part of huſbandry work, are enabled to gain a livelihood, or at leaſt ſo much as makes them, if reduced to poverty, a. very light burden to ſociety. Many counties in England might account it one of the great- eſt bleſlings, were their females, like thoſe in Kinroſsſhire, and moſt other places in Scotland, employed in raiſing and preparing lint, and ſpinning it into yarn. Soon may heaven- born INDUSTRY, always enjoying a cheerful and healthy countenance, engage in her honeſt and comely train all ranks and deſcriptions of mankind, that thereby ſqualid Jrdolence, with her meagre and beggarly attendants, be denied:an en- trance into the habitations of mortals! The quantity of each kind of crop in the county, and the proportion which it has to the reſt, may be eſtimated from ; the nearer that the common or vulgar names of plants and animals approach te the ſcientific names now ſo juſtly eſtabliſhed, ſo much the better. 1505.51 20063) the following table taken from a ſtatiſtical hiſtory of th 1e pariſh of Orwell, drawn up about three or four ycars ago. Sown annually| Annual produce. Qats;,.= 414=- 50 bolls.| Oats,== 10200 bolls. Barley, 2 1 21 2000101:40:/|- Barley,=- 3080 do. Peaſe; 21. 208070100) CQ2 Potatoes;=" 12600 do- NVheafs PEM EM AP FE do. Tant;== 886 Nones: Pötatoes 1-1 85: do: LDEIEEU 3 1231: 4=1 273.405 DnnmpsS,=,==) 20) ACICs. 9own grafles,- 255 do.| Mode of Cropping.---Yhe old diviſions of outfield and 771- ; 42053?.; field, and the ancient methods of managing them, ſtill prevail in moſt parts of the county. The intield receives all the ma- out interruption. From the outfield, after being dunged by feeding cattle upon it, the farmer tak crops of oats 3; and then, without ſowing graſs-ſeeds, truſts to the ſpontaneous produCtion of nature for paſture the enſuing ſeaſon. Many farmers, however, are beginning to lay aſide old prejudices, and to adopt improvements, which in ſome other places have been the ſource of opulence and plenty. Regular ſyſtems of cropping are adopted by ſeveral, and are likely to become more common. A general rotation of white and green crops is certainly commendable; but for 2 farmer never to deviate from every punttilio, and to pay no atten- tion to the ſeaſons, or to the ſtate of the markets, would be folly: and for landlords to bind their tenants to a particular ſyſtem, without the ſmalleſt deviation, as ſome landed pro- prietors have done elſewhere, is extremely injudicious, and which no wiſe and prudent man will become bound to obſerve. Plantations.--Excluſive of the plantations at Blair, on the eaſtern extremity of Clieſh hills, there are not perhaps in the whole county a hundred acres of land planted with trees. rm REIST IIND IT INGEER 2. 1 This article of improvement might be pradtiſed with advati- tage in ſeveral places. Farmers in general, not only here but through the moſt of Scotland, are adverſe to the rearing of plantations in their farms, or their immediate neighbourhood. They imagine that numerous plantations are hurtful to crops, in preventing them from ripening in due time 3 and even after they are cut down, from being ſpecdily and properly dried for the fack- yard. This objeCtion is queſtionleſs not without foundation with reſpett to cloſe plantations around ſmall fields, eſpecially if much ſheltered from the ſouth, for thereby the heat of the fun-rays is prevented from being of ſervice to the growing crops. It is ſuppoſed alſo that the roots of trees in many caſes ſpread through the ground, to the no ſmall detriment of the ſoil; and that the trees themſelves afford an harbour for Imall birds, crows, and other animals, that are hurtful to the intereſt of the farmer.--It is believed, however, that trees ju- diciouſiy planted, either in clumps or ſtrips, are of conſiderable lervice to agriculture, on account of the ſhelter and warmth which they occaſion, efpecially if planted in ſuch direCtions as to intercept the cold nipping winds from the eaſt, and the violent ſtorms from the ſouthweſt. LIVE STOER. NoTHING peculiar attaches itſelf to the live ſtock in this county, of courſe an account of it will afford but few obſer- vations«. Horſes.=“Theſe are generally of the common kinds that ſtock the lowlands of Scotland. Some are the aborigines of the country: a great number are of the deſervedly famous Lanarkſhire breed, or of a conſiderable mixture of that with the native kind. Some few have 2 tineure of the blood which, € 33] which, according to the common opinion, renders them more agile and ſpirited than the Lanarkſhire kind, and fitter to make a quicker diſpatch on long journeys, eſpecially where the roads are not level. The weight of the draughts they can take is but very inconſiderable. The county does more than ſupply itſelf with horſes, there being about a fourteenth part of.the whole number annually ſold. Cattle.--Many, if not:moßt-of the cattle reared in the county are of the Highland breed,-and-may literally be'cal- Jed black cattle; their colour being chiefly, black."Ihe co- jour of cattle is ſuppoſed to be in 2 great. part owing to the prevailing colour of. the more Kriking objeCts-of nature, which they are accuüſtorhed to ſee, eſpecially at-a certain'ſeaſon.-= The mountains and extehſive muirs in the- Highlands are moſtly covered with black coloured heath» and peat moſs- At certain ſeaſons of. the year, the uniformity of this black colouris broken by ſtripes and blotches of ſnow interſperſed 1 the brows of the mountains and tra&s-in the muirs, which, to cows in a certain ſate,-may-be-a powerful cauſe of ſtrip- ping and blotching„with white the calves they bring forth.--- In the more cultivated parts-of the iſland, eſpecially. where the ploughed land:g-0f a-red colour; which is the caſe in ma- ny places in the ſouth of Scotland,&Cc-the cattle.in the neighbourhood through length of- time will be of the'ſame hue.;' But whether the colour adds any-peculiar quality. to the carcaſe or milk of a cow,'is not perhaps-well aſcertained. It is indeed''commonly"believed;, that-a black coloured cow 1s bardier and more eafily kept thän a brown-one; and that'a- gain 15 hardier than one of a whife colour.--But theſe cir- cumſtances maybe owing to otlier cauſes thari that of colour. If we believe tlie following old adage,' ſtill retained in ſome parts of Lanarkſhire, it would appear that white footed E horſes [: 34] horſes are more tender or delicate than horſes of another co- lour in the feet. * If he(horſe) has one white foot, buy him; 1f he has two, you may try him;; If he has three, look ſhy at him; But if he has four, go by him. Sheep.==Although the hilly parts of this county are well adapted for the purpoſe of rearing ſheep, yet this important branch of huſbandry has not here arrived to that degree of perfeCion which it might. The ſheep commonly paſtured on the Cleiſh hills are ge- nerally brought from Linton in the beginning of ſummer, and moſt of them are ſold before winter. The profit upon them is about 28. each. They are black faced and coarſe woolled. This is ſuppoſed to be the hardieſt kind of ſheep; yet a ſevere winter generally carries off a conſiderable num- ber 3; the farmers not being at ſufhcient care to feed them in that ſeaſon, and thoſe that ſurvive are ſo much weakened as ſcarcely to recover their ſtrength for a great part of the fol Jowing ſummer. Much more profit might be made from them were they properly managed. The hills afford excel- lent paſture, and ſeem to be adapted for a better breed. The wool taken from the ſheep, the year they are brought from the ſouth, is commonly ſold at about 65. 8d. per ſtone tron weight,(22 lib. avoirdupois). Wool from the ſame ſheep is, the year following, ſold at 135. per ſtone. The difference of price is owing to the foulneſs of the former wool, which is ſmeared and loſes conſiderably in weight in ſcouring. Smear- ing is little praCtiſed here, though it is ſaid to improve the Äneneſs of the wool and the health of the ſheep. On the Lomond hills in the pariſh of Portmoak, the ,..cep are moſtly of the white faced kind, which, by experience, are found to thrive beſt on this paſture« They are very hardy, bur [44-398 3 but of a ſmall ſize, being ſold for about gs. or 103. a-Ppiece. The wool is not ine. About 10 fleeces go to a ſtone, which uſually ſells for about 1558. "There is great room for improvement in this branch of huſbandry. The paſtures in general are good, and the cli- mate healthy 3; but the ground is overſtocked, and the breed neglected. The number of each ſpecies of ſtock will appear by the following table, moſtly collected from the ſatiſtical hiſtory of the ſeveral pariſhes in the county. < Horſe9. Cattle« Sheep. Cla. 22-0... 149 7/50 11002 Portmoak,- 2840 1290 1184 Orwell 41172425 2049 2280 Reſt of the county, ſuppoſed,- 349 1686 2436 Total,- 1145 5766 7200 Their value may be eſtimated according to the following Tates; 1145 horſes, at 101. each,=> De11450 5766 cattle, at 61. each,= 34596 79200 ſheep; at 105. each,= 3500 Total value, L. 49546 Very few Sine are reared in this county,(ſo that the ac cumulated ſtock is hardly worth mentioning. Dunghil? Foaw!s.--Were it not for kain hens, very few dunghill fowls would be reared by farmers in this and other arable counties in Scotland. To hinds and cottagers, and E 2 other Fr636:7 3 other farm dependents, who have no ſowing of their own, the rearing of this ſpecies of ſtock 15 a profitable concern. But they are fed moſtly at the expence of(le Jammer„The loſs does not only conſiſt in what they devour by eating, but what they deſtroy in ſeed'time, and after the corns begin to ripen. Is it not reaſonable and juſt that the owners of dung- hill fowls, geeſe, pigeons,&Cc. ſhould be obliged to ſupport them at their own expence, and prevent them from injuring the property of others? Men are bound to do this with re- ſpe& to horſes, cows, ſheep,&c. and why not with regard to other ſpecies of flock? If the keeping of poultry is a pro« fitable concern, let thoſe'who find it ſo preſerve it for them- ſelves, and not injure the property of their Ae IBONN who have no ſhare 7 the PIOBE: mE dairy does not make a capital fgure in this county. It produces, however, a conſiderably greater quantity of butter and cheeſe than is neceſſary,for the conſumption of the inhabitants- The cheeſe is almoſt all of the ſkimmed milk kind, and ſells at about per ſtone, tron weight. But- ter finds a ready market in Edinburgh, Perth,&c. and brings high prices.» The quantities of butter and cheeſe made in the county are uncertain. GENERAL STATE OF THE INHABITANTS OF KINROSS-SHIRE. Population.--The county contains-5947 ſouls. Their di- Rribution in the different pariſhes, and the difference between the NLM the population in the year 1755 and the preſent, wall appear from the following Katiſtical table: Pariſhes« In 1755- In 1797- Kinroſs,-- 1310 8 A0020 Orwell,-- TT 1750 Portmoak,=-"278 692 653 Cleiſh,-- 996 1105 Part of. the county;.,=, 680* 600* Total, 5428 5947 By the above Catiſtical ſtatement, it appears that there 1s an increaſe of 519 inhabitants ſince the year 1755- There are 36,433 acres of land in the county, which comes to about >. acres to each individual. This diſproportion will not ap- pear to be ſo great, if 12,000 acres of waſtes, or land not arable, are dedudtted; and it is probable that even a greater quantity of uncultivated land remains in the county, were It properly aſcertained,;| Eccleſiaſtical State of the County.--Religion, in Scotland, can hardly be conſidered, even by the moſt prejudiced perſon, as an obſtacle or impediment to agriculture. The mode of public worſhip is fimple and ünperplexing. Having extreme- 1y few holidays, the huſbandman is not, by ſuperſtition, forced from the neceſſary labours of the field; and the einds, or ſupport of the clergy, being fixed annual ſalaries, are almoſt nothing in compariſon of Zithes in ſome other counties, and eſpecially the manner in which theſe tithes are colle&ed. The ſtipends or livings of the eſtabliſhed clergy in the county, including their glebes, amount to about 5201. Ster- . ling * From copje&ture, the accounts not being given in the ſtatiſtical hiſ- tories of theſe pariſhes. [ 38. I] ling annually, The manner in which this ſum is colleted, 15 quite the reverſe of the vexatious cuſtom of colle&ing tithes in kind. Beſides the eſtabliſhed clergy, there-are three or four be- longing to the ſeceſlion from the church of Scotland. Their adherents in the county amount to at leaſt one half of the whole inhabitants, who, chiefly by the rents of ſeats in the meeting houſes, pay their miniſters ſtipends, amounting to about 200l1. annually; a ſum ſo ſmall, as to amount to about 18d. a year to each individual."The ſeceders almoſt univer- ſally prove themſelves to be ſober, induſtrious and frugal. "Their religious profeſlion, therefore, can be no obſtacle either to the theory or practice of agriculture. The whole eccle- Gaſtical livings in the county, by the above ſtatement, chiefly taken from the Statiſtical Hiſtory of Scotland, amounts to about 720]. per annum, or a little leſs than half a crown a year for each individual. Schools.=-On the proper education of youth, depends in 2 great meaſure the happineſs of ſociety, and the progreſs of every valuable purſuit. Ignorance in a community is the certain foundation of immorality, loth and poverty. Im- provements, therefore, in the arts and ſciences, and in every thing valuable, can only be reaſonably expedted from perſons whoſe minds, in the carly periods of life, are opened by edu- cation. A perſon unaccuſtomed to attention and method, in ſimply learning to read a language, or in acquiring the principles and habits of writing and arithmetic, and the other branches of ſcholarſhip, as commonly taught in the parochial ſchools in Scotland, and which come within the reach of the lower claſſes of the people in this country, can never be ex- peded to make much progreſs, except in blindly following the trammels in which he may be led. An education, eſpe- cially one that is founded on the principles of the Chriſtian religion, 80.7 religion, leads people to be ſober, induſtrious, attentive, and eager to make improvements in any line of life in which they may be placed. An individual who has got no education may indeed, like an unexpected meteor, make a tolerable ap- pearance among intelligent improvers, and may. chance to hit upon 2 diſcovery that will be of great ſervice to mankind; but ſuch inſtances are extremely rare, and ought never to be truſted to by thoſe who have any public concern in a com- munity. Ignorance amongſt the great body of the people, in any ſtate, is the mother of diſcord, anarchy, and rebellion. Such perſons are liable to be led aſtray by the artifices of de- ſigning men, and to commit any outrage that cruelty or vil lany may diſtate. Education in this county is every where of eaſy acceſs, and to be had upon very moderate terms. The people are extremely deſirous to give their children an educa- tion accommodated to their circumſtances; and there is ſcarcely a child of 7 or 8 years of age who cannot read Eng- liſh pretty accurately. School wages are very ſmall, being in Orwell, and nearly the ſame in other places, no more than IS. 8d. per quarter for Engliſh, 2s. for writing, 25. 6d. for arithmetic, and 3s. 6d. for Latin. The ſalaries are very ſmall. The whole amount of ſalary and wages,&c. in the pariſh of Cleiſh is, per annnm, about 131. In Portmoak it 1s 221."The four parochial ſchools may be ſtated as fol- 1ows: No. of Scholars, Salaries« Tip) 8 5 Du Kinrofſs, 8 140 3169 Orwell,-> is 160173. 4 Portmoak, L 65 5 11 15 Cleiſh, 2 E50 8 Ir I% Reſt of the county,- 80* GRIS Total, 385 42. 2552 8 Zuppoſcd, [143:.] There are ſeveral private ſchools in the villages and ſome other parts of the county, for the more eaſy accommodation of children; and the wages are equally reaſonable with thoſe of the parochial ſchools. The landed proprietors in this county are therefore durdened! for the regular education of the youth of a whole ſhire, with ſalaries to maſters, and upholding ſchool- houſes,&c. in a ſum amounting to about 5ol. yearly, or iome- thing leſs than a halfpenny per acre. The ſchool wages at 25. der quarter at an average amount to about 381. 108. year- 1y, making, with the ſalaries, a ſum of 881. 105. Private ſchools are ſuppoſed to require yearly, for fees and ſalaries, about 6ol. The whole annual amount of the expence for the regular education of the county is 1481. 105. being a de- mand from each individual of än annual ſum not exceeding 6d. Sterling. Manufa&ures.=-Trade and manufaCtures operate, 110.2 conſiderable degree, on the ſtate of agriculture and huſban- dry. It has been imagined by ſome ſpeculators, that, when eſtabliſhed on a large ſcale, they are extremely hurtful to a- griculture--by abſtradting labourers that would otherwiſe be employed in the field--by raiſing the wages of farm ſer- vants--by infuſing a ſpirit of licentiouſneſs into the com- munity at large--and by diffeminating principles, both civil and eccleſfiaſtical, that are hoſtile to the peace and happineſs of ſociety. Such reflections are either the reſult of iguorance, or of a deſire to abſorb into the vortex of agriculture all the opulence, attention, and labour of mankind 3 and to accu- mulate fortunes by means of depreſfling the inferior claſſes. Others, who judge from experience, and from more rational and enlightened principles, believe that manufactures and a- griculture mutually aſliſt each other 3; and that although for a while, at the recent eſtabliſhment of 2a large manufaCtory in a rural diſtritt, the price of labour may, perhaps, be in- creaſed, 15 30.7 creaſed; and labourers for country work more difficult to be had, yet theſe apparent loſſes are fully recompenſed by a ſpeeay influx of working people from every quarter;==by a ready ſale of all commodities from the farm, at prices great= 1y advanced above their former rate;->by a ſuperior ſpirit and taſte forinduſtry and ad&tivity, widely difſeminated through the country;--and by a generous openneſs and liberality of mind that is not ſo generally to be found in the ſequeſtered and unpoliſhed abodes of the ruſtic. Exceptions, however, muſt be admitted in every general rule; but, happily for Scotland, it has, on fair inquiry, been found that manufac- tures, inſtead of hurting the real intereſts of agriculture, have greatly contributed to promote its beſt and moſt durable ad Vantages. The principal manufaCure in this courity is that of coarſe linens, commonly called Sileſias, woven from 27 to 30 inches in breadth, ſome coarſe?zweels, Zarns, and Praikens. A great deal of linen is woven for private uſe, as the peo- ple in general are very induſtrious, and make al! their cloth for ſhirts, bed-linens,&c. of yarn ſpun in their own houſes, and moſtly of lint raiſed in the county. From the ſtatiſtical accounts of the pariſhes; it appears that about 400 looms are employed in the weaving manufaCure, Every three looms uſually require the attendance of a perſon to wind yarn and warp the webs,&c. for them; ſo that the whole employed in this branch amounts to about 530 perſons: Eſtimating their earnings at the moderate average ſum of a ſhilling a day each, the annual income will amount to about 82151., which is wholly the reward of manual labour, excluſive of the profits from the raw materials, and from the ordinary courſe of trade to the manufa&urers. Suppoſing each loom to weave, at an average, four yards of cloth a day, which is a very moderate ſtatement, eſpecially when the chief part of is trade is coarſe linens, at 2d. the yard for weaving, the R quantity [ qe 7] quantity of cloth woven in a year will amount to about 948,800 yards. Allowing a farthing per yard of clear profit to the manufa&urer or owner'of the cloth, an additional ſum of 7801. muſt be made to the earnings of the weavers, and others employed in fabricating the cloth, amounting in whole to no leſs than 89951. To this might be added, the profits ariſing from railing, dreſſing, and ſpinning the lint uſed in this manufa&ure. But as this branch of the trade is not confined to this county, it cannot well be brought into the account. From the above ſum, there ſhould, however, be deduded an allowance for fabricating that cuftomary cloth 4hat is not expoſed to ſale, but worn in the county..-Sup- poling it to amount to 9931., which, at 34. per yard for weaving and other manufa&uring expences, will come to 79,600 yards of cloth, annually worn by the inhabitants, or about 13 yards to each individual, there will remain:a ſum of 20001. annually imported into the county for labour a= lone. As the moſt part:of this money is expended 4n the county, the greateſt ſhare of it falls, either directly or indi- redtUy, into the hands of the farmers, chiefßly for vidtuals; as drunkenneſs, according to one'of the ſtatiſtical accounts of this place,“ is entirely unknown* 7" eſpecially at Millna- thort, inhabited chicfly by weavers. But manufadures are beneficial to agriculture, not mere- Iy on account of the ready cafh tliey throw into the market, but alſo on account of the manure which the perfons em- ployed in them produce. In the pariſh of Portmoak is a parchment manufa&ure, Syhich is carried on by two perſons. This branch of buſineſs has been eſtabliſhed in Kinneſswood above 1'50 years. Great quantities of this manufacture are ſent to Edinburgh and Glaſgow. The continued encouragement the manufaCturers ; have » Statiſtical Hiſtory of the pariſh-of Orwell, juſt n0w publiſhing. 1 40.1 have received from the public, is-the beſt evidence that they are ſkilſul in their buſineſs. The diſtillation of whiſky is carried on to a great extent by Andrew Stein, Eſq. of Hattonburn. This work employs many hands. The number of cattle fattened by the refuſe is conſiderable, and the manure produced by it is of very great importance to the neighbouring helds«. State of the Poor.=-The means by which the poor in this county are ſupported, can be no burden to ſociety, nor any obſtacle to improvements. "The number: of paupers on the parochial liſts amounts to about 52. They are ſupported by the church collections and dues, and the intereſts of ſome donations and[mall funds aCCU= mulated in times of plenty: the whole of the annual expend» ture for their ſupport amounts to about 1171 Among the ſece» ders are alſo 2 few poor, whom they ſupport by colleCtions at the ehurches- Suppoſing their number was equal to the half of the parochjal poor, and the money expended upon them was jikewiſe equal to the half of theirs, the whole poor in the county will only be 78, and their ſupport annually no more than 1751. 103. From this account, which is drawn chiefly from the ſtatiſtical hiſtory of Scotland, it appears that the proportion of poor to the inhabitants of the county is nearly as dne to eighty-two 3 ard their ſupport, excluſive of the in- tereſt of ſtock funded, comes to about fivepence or ſixpence a year to each individual; a ſum ſo trifling as hardly to be mentioned, eſpecially as it is the reſult of charity voluntarily beſtowed, without the ſmalleſt burden whatever on landed property» The money colle&ed for the poor is wholly under the management of the kirk-ſeſlon of each parilbh. The kirk-ſelon conſiſts of the miniſter and elders. This money is diſtributed to the poor, partly by(0 much a month, as they ſtand in need of it; and partly: by paying their houſe rents, F 2 purchaſing FF 47 purchaſing coals, ſhoes,&c.&c. Some indigent families r6&« ceive a[mal] ſum once a year to buy lint, or lintſeed, and others are aſſiſted in the education of their children. By theſe annual ſupplies many poor people are encouraged to. ſup» port themſelves, without coming upon the monthly roll. It Hhas ſeldom or never been found that iheſe annual gifts were 111 beſtowed, They are received with thankfulneſs, and prove 2 motive to induſtry, by, keeping alive the hopes of inde« pendence.; << Perhaps there never was a fund managed with ſtritter “< economy, or one that has anſwered better the purpoſes for & which it was deſtined, than that under the care of the “« kirk-ſeſlions in Scotland» No claſs of men could be fitter «“ for diſtributing the public charity than the elders in coun« <« try pariſhes, Their acquaintance with the circumſtances 6“ of the people prevents all impoſition: the laudable va- « nity they uſually have in bettering their funds, leads them 6“ to economy; and their time and labour are beſtowed cheer- «<< fully, and without reward. This is the reaſon why few “« or none of the pariſhes in this country have had recourſe <“« to its legal method of ſupporting the poor, by aſſeſling the S< heritors. Of all the methods of ſupplying the poor hi- “ therto deviſed, I believe that is the worſt. Whilſt it is a “ heavy and increaſing burden upon the landed intereſt, it “< ruins the charity of the middling claſs of people, and en- “ courages idleneſs and diſlipation among the poor. As ſoon s as the middling ranks of the people(who, to their honour, << bear. almoſt all the burden of ſupporting the poo:) find «“« that there 15 a legal proviſion for them, they withhold their “« contributions as unneceſſary; and the poor themſelves, ha- < ving a legal claim to ſupport, are tempted to lay aſide their ? DO DODO IJO Ao 7 7 8 8 9 Per Week. Per Annum. Lz 0. 01.07071007020.05070 .|| No. of Bolls. | Average Price of Mealfrom| 1758 to 1782. T35. 5d. per Boll. Average Price of Meal from 1696 to 1720. 105. per. Boll. ||NVo. of NASSER I9% x5 I3 I0 155 17 18 Oo 4 15 Price of Meal in 1698, 225. per Boll. No. of Bolls.| I.&. 197 DIED DO (323.40 „pau; 4(6 O1. NOL 10200 11 1910 d. Price of Meal in 1706. 65. 84. per Boll. No. of Bolls.| 1. s. I9+ I0 I97 IO 23% 16 27% 3 317 8 35 13 .||No. of Bolls. Average Price of Meal from 1721 to 1745. 105. 5d. per Boll. I9> 125 T5 TE 20 225 Price of Meal in 1740. 175. per Boll. 8 No. OF BAUS 2 16 | .| No. of Bolls. Average Price of Meal from 1739 to 1763. I15. 6d. per Boll. Price of Meal in 1783. 215. per Boll. No. of Bolls.| I. s. IO I1+ 125 I3Z I5 16 173 L8Zx 194 21 223 I97 OV A20 0000020 „m OI=->3 20.00 Ou Qa Average Price of Meal from 1770 to 1794. I45. 6d. per Boll. .||No. af Bolls. Price of Meal in 1796. 233. per Boll. ADO OO OwWwADdOOO A Price of Meal, at Boll. No. of Bolls.|[. OROLO O0 0.0000 0 010m 15:8 4 tion is direCted to preſerving, with all poſible care, what has been executed with ſo much judgment and ſpirit by thoſe who have preceded me. Shelter.--“From the mode of planting-adopted by my father, the grounds being va- ried with numerous little hills and rocky eminences, as well as various glens and val- leys, there has reſulted the moſt perfect degree of ſhelter that trees can give. The varied lines of wood breaking the current of the wind from every quarter, and the cattle finding ſhelter, 1 in every field, irom every wind that blows, are advantages that have, in my opinion, compenſated for the additional length of fencing which that mode of planting neceſlarily occaſioned. The climate has in this way been improved; “-and hence, though the ſoil has received no improvement from liming, draining, or „other culture, yet in the ſpring the graſs riſes much earlier, and in the autumn con- tinues freſh much later, in theſe encloſures, than on the expoſed grounds in the neighbourhood. The 1200 acres of graſs-land are- let from year to year; and the rents have been uniformly increaſing. Upon an experience of thirty ycars, this cir- cumſtance becomes a ſuflicient proof of the ſolidity and certainty of the improvement. The adtual and probable gain or advantage.---T confider that the increaſe of rent has been much beyond what the riſe of rents would have been by the mere effr& of time, and alteration of the value of money. It is five-fold what it was forty years ago. If “the whole of the land had been left in a ſtate of nature, the rent would, I ſuppoſe, have been increaſed in the ſame, or nearly in the ſame proportion as the land-rent in other parts of Scotland. Mr. Dempfter, I obſerve, conſiders doubling in 50 years to be the ſtate of land in the county of Forfar. The additional riſe is to be aſcribed to -encloſing and ſhelter. As far as I am able to aſcertain the coſt of theſe improve- ments, I am within bounds when I ſtate, that the extra-improvementof rent affords 7 per cent. for the money laid out upon enclofing and planting: and in this ſtatement of the annual increaſe, I reckon nothing for the profit ariſing from the annual thin- nings, which are yearly increaſing; nor do I ſet any eſtimate upon the accumulating value of the great body of the wood. The plantations may be diſtinguiſhed as fol lows: v!z. 50 acres of ornamental wood, growing near the houſe, and not yielding any profit but what ariſes from the thinnings; 30 acres, in narrow ſtrips-and ſmall patches, where; it is probable, the value of the produce will not repay the expence of forming anew or repairing tlieir fences; and 460 acres of wood, to be cut for profit, in regu- lar ſucceſlion. I have a right therefore to look FORRRInG to this as an inexhauſtible ſource of gain, in addition to the advantage ariſing from the land-rent: and I take the liberty of ſtating thoſe things to you, becauſe there can be no greater encouragement to this ſpecies of improvement, the moſt important which our country can receive. Mannexr vf p/anting.--The plantations, at firſt, were not conducted with that ſkill or knowledge which experience afterwards gave; and conſequently, their progreſs was ſlower, and they repeatedly went back. This was the caſe from 1749 to 1 769: but, from this laſt period, there has b2en ſcarcely any failure; and the plantations, in all ex- poſures, have flouriſhed with great Iuxuriance. The mode pradtiſed from 1769, with ſo much ſucceſs, has been; firſt of all, to fence completely and ſufhciently; and then, fe 5. 4. 3 to drain thoroughly, wherever there was occaſion. The plant, according to the uſual“ mode in Scotland, was placed in a pit, which, inſtead of being dug out and left open; was made, at the inſtant of planting, in the following manner: The labourer, with two cuts of his ſpade, raiſed up and folded back an angular piece of turf; and after the under-ground had been moved and looſened by a trowel, ſo as.to enable the ten- der fibres of the root to penetrate the ground, the plant was inſerted, and its roots ſcparated properly in one of the cuts, and the piece replaced and made firm, ſo as to prevent the wind-waving of the plant, as may be eaßfly underſtood by the follow- ing figure, Cc A D and A C may repreſent the cuts made by the labourer, and B where the ground 18 left entire or uncut. After the piece D A C has been folded back, and the earth: moved, the plant is inſerted either in the line or cut AD or AC, and its roots ſpread, the turf is replaced,'and trodden firmly down. he diſtance in planting has been three or four feet, according fo the expoſure. Next to wet ſoil, one of the greateſt obſtruCions to the growth of the trees, has been the ſhaking of the roots by the wind. This, when the expoſure happened to be to the ſouth-weſt, had greatly retarded the growth of many of the early plantations. To obviate this, it was thought that it might be of advantage to plant the tree obliquely, with its top to the ſouth-weſt, the quarter from which our longeſt-continued and moſt violent winds blow. This has accordingly been done, in ſeveral inſtances, with great ſucceſs: and even in one of the moſt expoſed ſituations, not a ſingle tree has been obſerved to fail. Almoſt all of them are thriving. In five years from the time of their being planted, they came all into the upright direction: and I cannot help thinking, that their ſucceſs was very much owing to the directing of the plants in the way mentioned. For if a tree is planted upright in ſuch an expoſed ſituation, the wind, making an impreſſion upon the branches and ſtem, laterally waves it backwards and forwards, and ſhakes it at the root. But if the apex is preſerited to the wind, it can receive no injury from waving, but the effe& muſt be, as it were, to drive it deeper into the earth. This being the caſe at firſt, for two or three years, the root, in that time, gets faſt hold; and when the tree, by its natural propenfſity to ſeek the upright, has at laſt gained that direction, all danger from wind-waving is over. 1 would therefore ſtrongly recommend this in all ſuch fituations as I have deſcribed, it being of great importance to find any expedient which may countera& that great enemy of trees, the ſouth-weſt wind.' By this means, you can rear an out- ward ſcreen againſt it, which refſiſts the wind, and tends very much to. the ſhelter of the interior plantations. 1 have had occaſion to contend with no other expoſure ſo much as the ſouth-weſt. But if I had to ſtruggle with any other, I would, by the ſame expedient, turn the top of the tree to that wind which was likely to injure it moſt.--1 have remarked, that, for the firſt year or two, the progreſs of trees,[0 MOE ed,, 1.15: 2 ed, is flow, and by no means like the vigorous ſhoots which are often ſeen in this country the very firſt ſummer after planting. This I take to be owing to ſeveral cauſes; but chiefly to the mode of planting in pits, by which the plant cannot ſend forth its roots with ſuch eaſe as when the ground is previouſly ploughed or trenched. "That, however, is an evil which cannot well be remedied, as, in moſt caſes, the places to be planted cannot be ploughed, owing to the ground being rocky and uneven; and trenching would go beyond all bounds of expence. The forts of trees azuhich anſwer be/t.--I may ſafely ſay, that, with the exception of the Scotch fir, I have found all the various trees that have been tried ſucceed perfectly well, and many of them grow with a degree of vigour and luxuriancy that is not ex- ceeded any where in the-iſland. The tree which, with me, grows the faſteſt, beyond all compariſon, is the larch. I meaſured many larches, this laſt autumn, planted in the year 1769, which were four feet and a half in circumference, at the height of four feet from the ground: and ſome of thoſe which were cut down in thinning, had in them about two-thirds of red wood. In 1792, Lcut down, in thinning, many which were planted in 1771: and all of them were ſold for what we call couples. Each tree, being ſawed in two, from end to end, made two rafters or half-couples, ſuſlicient for the roofing of cottages, barns, €s'c."The ſpruce of all countries, and the filver-fir, grow well with me likewiſe. The New-England pine flouriſhes, and indeed grows rapidly, in all expoſures, for 26- or 30 years, and then decays, becoming both ugly and uſeleſs. The Scotch fir uni- formly fails in all expoſed places. Thoſe Scotch firs which were planted by my grandfather, in low ſheltered ſituations, have become very valuable trees: thoſe which were planted by my father, in the high expoſed ſituations, however good or dry the ſoil, have many of them died, and none of them have thriven. On which account; his early plantations, where he truſted to the Scotch fir as nurſes, were very much re-- tarded."The foreſt-trees, of all ſorts, grow luxuriantly3 and even the oak riſes faſter than in many'other places. The beech, elm, aſh, and ſycamore,. grow rapidly. There are more of the foreſt-trees planted than will fill the ground when the fir-tribe is thinned out--indeed I believe the oaks alone, were they orily encouraged, might do ſo. The greateſt diſcovery for Scotland, in the way of planting, is the larch. It 1s now know:: to ſuit all expoſures and ſoils, and to be a very uſeful tres. The com mon people, in my neighbourhood, have got over all their prejudices againſt it, and prefer it to their old acquaintance the Scotch fir. Indeed, of all the pines, it is the moſt durable, and is equally ſuited to all uſes: for it bears wet and dry equally well; and, what is more; it bears being ſometimes wet, and ſometimes dry, better than any other tree. I have obſerved too, that it grows well and readily by the ſhedding of its feed. One of my plantations; planted in 1763, contains a conſiderable proportion of larches. There were left in it large vacant ſpaces,- to anſwer the purpoſe of ridings, and of bringing out the wood, when there ſhould be thinnings. In thoſe“ vacancies), there are many young larches, growing moſt vigorouſly: and as 1 am ſure none were planted in it, they muſt be ſelf-ſown from the ſeed of the adjacent trees: I is worthy of remark. too, that horſes have been permitted to graz2 in that planta- B- t10N 5. [5 6 (ion 3; and the young larches bear no mark whatever of having been injured'by them. Black cattle have been excluded. 1 | The beſt trees for nusfſing others.--From what I have already mentioned, it is natural to ſuppoſe, that the planting of the Scotch Hr has been entirely given up. And the good effe& of that meaſure has been found in the growth of the plantations of later date. The larch being. deciduous, is.not a good nurſe; and, from its quick growth, it is probable, that it is a great robber of the nouriſhment of other trees. From my own experience, I have no heßfitation in ſaying, that the ſpruce is to be preferred beyond all the other trees as a nurſe. L have thouſands of inſtances of oaks and elms grow- ing up uninjured in the boſom of ſpruces. The fad is moſt material; and reafoning at the ſame time ſupports it. The deciduous trees which I have mentioned, ſend their roots downwards, particularly the oak. The ſpruce ſpreads its roots on the ſur- face. Their nouriſhment is drawn from different ſources. And the longer the oak grows, the more it derives its nouriſhment from a depth z conſequently, the leſs it. interferes with the ſpruce. This laſt riſes in a regular and very pointed cone, ſo that it leaves full-ſpace for the ſpreading top of the oak. The ſpruce is thickly leaved, and its branches of 2 ſtrong unpliable nature 3; conſequently, it gives much protection, and does little„injury to its neighbour: and it is very much feathered and buſhy at the root, ſo that it protedts the foreſt-tree from being wind-waved. The larch, on the contrary, is naked of leaves during the worſt of the ſeaſon: its boughs are thin and pliable. It laſhes the neighbouring tree unmercifully; and 1s in a condition, from its nakedneſs, to make every laſh be felt juſt at.the time when its neighbour be- gins to ſpring: and it has no peculiar thickneſs at the bottom, to proted the other from wind-waving. It might be ſuppoſed, that the Glver-fir would make as good a nurſe as the ſpruce. In point of fa&, I have not obſerved that the foreſt-tree grows ſo kindly with this as with the ſpruce: and it may be obſerved, that the filver-fir is Dot ſo thoroughly leaved as the ſpruce. The ſides of the bough only are covered with leaves 3 and the tree itſelf is not ſo well clothed, eſpecially near the ſurſace of the earth, Trees covered with moſs.=-Nothing is more diſagreeable to the ſight, or more inju- rious to the tree, than moſs. It is the effect of damp. Conſequent]y, wet ſoil, too much thickneſs in the wood, and damp ſtrong graſs, produce it. It ſeems, in moſt caſes, to be generated over the tree, from a collection'of it firſt formed at the root: and I am ſure, from my own experience, that this has originated from a ſtrong, wet, matted graſs being permitted to grow rank in tlie plantations, and having its bad qualities increaſed by the loppings-which I am under the neceſſity of leaving to rot in the wood. The cheapneſs of coal in the neighbourhood, makes it ruinouſly expenſive to carry away thoſe loppings. Where this thick graſs does not exiſt, but the graſs is cut, and the wood kept elear and well-thinned, no moſs appears« Where the caſe 1s otherwiſe, the moſs bas grown in ſome inſtances, but never till the tree has arrived at the age of 20 or 25 years(unleſs the ground has been damp, and not ſufhiciently drained); and then it has uniformly begun by a quantity of moſs gathering at the root, 146495, 9 root, which, having been allowed to remain, has, in the courſe of years, overſpread the whole tree. It leems to me, that the nouriſhment required to ſupply the vegeta- tion of the moſs, is a great impediment to the growth of trees 3; for I have had the moſs ſcraped oft, and the progreſs with which the trees have increaſed, after that operation, has been aſtoniſhing.'Uhis is performed by an inſtrument like a hoe, made concave, to ſuit the ſhape of the tree. My father had it made with teeth, like a curry-comb; but I think the plain one 1s better. In addition to this, there ſhould be an inſtrument like a rake, with only three or four large prongs, to draw away the collection of mols and graſs at the root of the tree; and then both the moſs, and the chief cauſe of it, will be removed, and that too at a very cheap rate. This work may be performed by an old man, who can labour at notbing elſe. The wages of ſuch a perſon are, with me, from 6. to 8 d. a-day. He can clear a tree from moſs, of 20 feet high in the ſtem, and 18 inches diameter, in ten minutes; that is to ſay, at the rate of 6 in an hour: and ſuppoſing he works only 8 hours in a day, that is, 48 trees a-day. But I will ſuppoſe the number of trees a-day to be only 40, and the wages of the labourer 19. and that he works only 200 days of the 365, this will make 8000 in a year, cleaned of moſs, for 10/. Any perſon who has occaſion to try this, will find the expence amply repaid, by the extraordinary improvement which it produces in the growth of the trees: and if the ſoil is thoroughly dried, the trees kept properly thinned, and the moſs and matted graſs removed from the roots of the trees, I am almoſt ſure that they will be no longer infeſted with moſs; for it is not cauſed by the atmoſphere, otherwiſe it would be univerſal; whereas I find it, with me at leaſt, to be but partial. Thinning.--From the ſtate of my plantations, thinning is now the great and prin- cipal object of my attention. For this I have no general rule but one, which is, gra- dually and ſafely to cut out the pines, and bring the whole woods to foreſt-timber; becauſe the pine, being but a tenant for üfe, when once cut down, never riſes again: but the foreſt-tree, if due attention is paid to the fences, gives an eſtate in fee-ſmple, riſing again and again from the ſtool; and the older the root, the more vigorous the growth. Where the firs and foreſt-trees have got up together, I gradually cut out the firs; but where the firs have over-Ihadowed and choked the foreſt-trees(of which there occur frequent inſtances, when the Scotch fir has been uſed as a nurſe), I then cut the firs out in patches, thereby forming vacuities of 30, 40, or 50 feet diameter, and leaving a thick fringe of firs round thoſe open ſpaces. The choked foreſt-trees being thus relieved from the noxious drop of the over-ſhadowing fir, riſes rapidly: and the rapidity of their growth is much increaſed by ſtubbing the choked tree; for it will ſooner be a tree, if cut over, than if left to grow from its choked decrepit ſhoots. When the foreſt-trees, in thoſe apartments, riſe to be out of danger from wind or cold, and to be themſelves a ſhelter, then the ſurrounding firs will be cut down; and the foreſt-trees, ſheltered by their neighbours then grown up, will get on, and the whole become gradually a wood of foreſt-trees. As all my plantations were origi- nally well ſtocked with foreſt-trees, cutting away the firs in this manner is the only thing requiſite to be done. But thoſe gentlemen who have fir-wood only, may gra dually obtain foreſt-timber, by clearing out ſpaces in their fir-woods, and then plant-' ing LT 25 ing thoſe ſpaces with foreſt-trees. When theſe have grown up, the remaining firs may be removed in large patches, which are to be filled up with foreſt-trees. But if the foreſt-trees are planted among the firs, and the latter only gradually thinned, the former never will riſe. Want of air, and the drop of the firs, will keep the foreſt- trees for ever in a depreſſed condition. This mode was ſuggeſted to me by the following circumſtance. Some Scotch firs were cut down to open a proſped, and by that means there was formed an apartment of 20 or 25 feet diameter. After an abſence of ten years, I found the view again obſtru&ed, occaſßioned by the growth of the foreſt-trees, which had riſen thus- ra- pidly, in conſequence of the removal of the firs 3 while the choked foreſt-trees, left among the firs, immediately adjacent to them, remained in their original ſtunted con- dirion: and yet thoſe very ürs had been gradually and properly thinned. The number and ſtate of the inhabitants. It has been, I think, the very miſtaken po- licy of many landholders to diflodge their cottagers. This policy has extended to my neighbourhood. Kinroſs, the principal town in the county, has been increaſed by itz but the community is injured. It enhances the price of labour; and does not, I think, promote population, or render the labouring man more happy: for there is no ſtate in which perſons of that rank are ſo happy, as when under the immediate prote&tion of their ſuperior. It was a great obje&t with my grandfather and father, to encourage po- pulation on their eſtate. Befides the utility of it, in having the command of labourers, and in increaſing the rents(for almoſt every labourer ſettled on the eſtate pays a fair, good rent for the- little bit of land which he poſſeſles), they found infinite pleaſure in -* having an eſtate well(tocked with inhabitants. My plan, therefore, is to follow. out this example which has been ſet me, by endeavouring to increaſe, inſtead of diminiſhing the inhabitance of the place.--At preſent there are 26 inhabited houſes in one village, of which I am the proprietor 3 5 property-houſes, and 12 feus, in another 3 and of cottages ſcattered over the eſtate, there are 20. Among theſe, I do not include farm-houſes, nor the moorland people 3; but confine myſelf to that part of the eſtate which I deſcribed as- being either adapted for culture or grazing: conſequently, this population conſiſts, in all, of 62 families: to which ſhould add, the family of a bleacher, who. rents-a ſmall bleaching-ground.=-The number of acres, thus inhabited, amounts to 2300. Theſe inhabitants are, with the exception of ſome widows, whoſe huſbands were formerly cottagers, married perſons, having families of children that may be reckoned each, at an average, 4 in number, all the moſt orderly, beſt diſpoſed people imaginable.=-The occupation of the greater number is that of labourers. There are ſome weavers; and handicraft-people, ſuch as ſmiths, carpenters, maſons, a baker, Naters, ſhoemakers, tailors- They have each a garden, included in the rent of their houfes; which rents are from 15 to 20 and 25 ſillings a-year. By this there is no profit; nor do I ſuppoſe there is any loſs: for with the eaſe and readineſs with which I am ſupplied with wood» the expence of repairs is not very burdenfome."They all, without excep- tion, keep each a cow, many of them two; and where they are collected together in the villages, a field, or fields, are appropriated for their cows. Where they are ſcat- rered about, it is made a condition, in the annual letting of the fields, to reſerve a cow'3. 1,70 H 'ow's graſs or two for each cottager. They pay, in general, 205. a-year for a cow's graſs; if the paſture 1s rich, ſomewhat more: and this I find to be a very competent Tent. My intention 1s, to increaſe the ſcattered cottages 3; for the reſidence of the cot- tagers, in different parts, is a great means of protecting the fences and plantations, both from the cattle and intruders. I mean to build them in pairs for mutual pro- teCtion, and to make the following improvement in the diſtribution of the premiſes; viz. putting the cow-houſe and dunghil behind, and the garden in front, cloſe before che door. This, if they have any turn at all for neatneſs, will give then an opportu- nity to exerciſe itz and if they have none, it will exclude the common nuifſance of our Scotch cottages, the dung and filth in front. I found this upon the experience of a few inſtances, at a village where I have let, on building-leaſes, ſome parcels of ground for cottages, at St. Cyrus, in the Mearns, on the road from Montroſe to Bervy. The diſtribution is upon the plan which I have juſt ſtated; and the conſe- quence 15, that there is an emulation for neatneſs: and every cottager has his garden laid out in little walks, roſe-trees and flowers on the border, and his pot-herbs in the Tquares within."This 1s a plan which ſeems to me not to have been attended to; and it ſtrikes me as likely to be very conducive to that neatneſs and cleanneſs which is not only pleaſant to ſee, but is productive of health and enjoyment. I have now cloſed a long, and, I am afraid, very tedious letter, which I ſuſped will not convey any information of much importance; my knowledge being obtained merely in conſequence of very interrupted, though anxious obſervation, given to a ſubject which I regard with reverence, and in the proſperity of which I feel a very deep intereſt. My chief purſuits, and the ordinary place of my refidence, in conſe- quence of them, have, in a great meaſure, prevented me from ſtudying the ſubject trom books, or from gaining much practical knowledge upon it, beyond the occaſional experience derived from my own particular place. I may therefore be ſtating things which are univerſally known, and already recorded by the experience of others. But if you can draw from the obſervations which I have communicated, any thing that 15 in itſelf new, or that will ſerve to encourage a ſpecies of rural improvement, which 15 attended with io much advantage, beauty, and comfort, as judicious planting, it will give me very great pleaſure and ſatisfaction. I am, Dear Sir, Yours moſt faithfully, (Signed) WILLIAM ADAM.