observations on the means by which the useful practices of the best Scotch farmers, may be most advantageously disseminated throughout the less improved districts of England and Scotland; together with a general view of the public and private advantages which may be derived from their more general adoption.

There are some questions, however, connected with the husbandry of Scotland, and with the improvement of that country, which are rather of a more abstruse nature, the explanation of which requires a good deal of research, and much reflection thoroughly to comprehend; in particular, the size of farms, and the establishment of a liberal system of connection between the landlord and tenant. These are points, therefore, (together with the characters of those who are employed in agricultural labour, in the more improved districts of Scotland,) which it is thought more advisable to place in a disti ct division of the work, (Part 11.), and to discuss in separate disserta

tions.

In an Appendix will be stated, some particulars connected with the improvement of Waste Lands in Scotland, (a subject to which the public attention cannot be too frequently called), and several other points, respecting which, the author trusted, that the information he had to communicate, would be acceptable to the public.'

A plan so very comprehensive and extended can be reported by us only in a cursory manner: but our notice will serve to shew to agriculturists that the view of the system here exhibited is very complete. In the first chapter of Part I., Sir John adverts to the points which require attention previously to the commencement of arable culture; these are stated to be the position and best construction of farm-houses and offices, the size and shape of fields, fences, — draining,― roads on a farm, and in its neighbourhood, - instruments of husbandry, live-stock, soil, climate, elevation and exposure, — with the situation of a farm in regard to markets.

It is laid down as an axiom in agriculture, that the farmhouse and offices ought to be placed, as nearly as possible, in the centre of a farm.' In the section on size and shape of fields, small inclosures for the growth of corn, irregularly shaped, and surrounded by high hedges and trees, are properly reprobated, and some judicious directions are given:

• In small farms near towns, from six to twelve acres may be suffi cient; but where farms are of a proper size, fields from twenty to even fifty acres, and in some instances as high as sixty, is the size that has been recommended, and that in no case they should be under twenty Scotch or twenty-five English acres, if it can be avoided. One of my correspondents indeed states, that his inclosures are about twenty Scotch, or twenty-five English acres, each, and that he would certainly enlarge them, were he not restricted to that size by his lease. Mr. Brown of Markle, whose knowledge in every branch of agriculture is so well known, considers a field of thirty Scotch, or thirty-eight English acres, to be a proper medium size, when permitted by local circumstances, for large farms.'

D 4

Among

Among farming instruments, Sir John not only eulogizes the threshing-mill, but, as a proof of its prevalence in Scot→ land, states the following information:

In the Carse of Gowrie district alone, which is a tract of about fourteen miles long and four miles broad, there are no less than 120 threshing mills driven by horses, and ten by water. In other parts of Scotland, threshing-mills are so general, that it is very difficult to find a man who will thresh with the flail. A mill-wright also has now become a separate trade or occupation from other branches of mechanism, in places where that was not formerly the case.'

For the enumeration of the several advantages of this machine, we must refer to the volume; yet, as a curious specimen of calculation, we shall insert Mr. Brown's estimate, (p. 88.) of the profit that might be derived by the public from the universal adoption of threshing-mills:

1. The number of acres producing grain in Great

Britain, at

2. The average produce in quarters at 3 quarters per acre, at

3. The increased quantity of grain produced by threshing, instead of using the flail, at onetwentieth part of the produce, or in quarters at 4. The value of that increased quantity at 408. per

quarter,

5. The saving in the expence of labour at 18. per

6. The total possible profit per annum to be obtained, at

7. The actual profit, on the supposition that only one-half of the grain produced were threshed per annum, at

8 millions.

24 millions.

1,200,000

£2,400,000

£1,200,000

£ 3,600,000

£1,800,000

Is it then to be wondered at, that he should pronounce the threshing-mill to be the most valuable implement in the farmer's possession; contending that it adds more to the produce of the country than any invention hitherto devised; and that it ought to be accounted the greatest improvement that has been introduced into Great Britain, during the present age?'

It is added, at the end of this section, that there is no country in Europe where farming is at all understood, where the implements of husbandry are so few, so simple, so cheap, or so effective as those in Scotland a circumstance of infinite moment to the industrious husbandmen;' and we are told that the threshing-mill, though it costs a considerable sum, yet is the cheapest of any, considering the work it performs.'

Under the head of live-stock, the mode of soiling or of feeding cattle with green meat in stalls, in preference to their being pastured or turned out loose into the fields, is largely detailed, as well as the whole of the modern dairy-system; and we are informed (p. 108.) that the most important im

provement

provement that has recently taken place in regard to the management of the dairy, is the invention of cast iron milk dishes, by Mr. Baird of the Shotts Iron Works, near Whitburn in West Lothian. These dishes are made of cast iron, softened by annealing in charcoal, turned smooth inside, then laid over with a coat of tin, to prevent the iron coming in contact with the milk, the rust from which might injure it. The outside of the dish is painted over to prevent rust also.' The great advantages of these dishes are that they preserve that proper degree of coolness which is necessary to cause the milk to throw up the cream, that they are easily kept clean by a little chalk on a woollen rag, and that they may be re-tinned at a small expence. So much are they coming into use, that the Company can with difficulty make a sufficient quantity to supply the demand during the season. Our English dairyfarmers will probably avail themselves of this hint: but it is proper to remark here that these iron dishes, so greatly recommended by the President of the Board of Agriculture, are compared only with wooden-dishes, and not with the earthenware-pans which are generally used in South Britain.

After having regularly discussed the several subjects enumerated above, Sir John concludes the chapter with a brief recapitulation; and with a sugar-plumb which will be grateful to the Scotish farmer:

• Farmers have been too often ridiculed as a stupid and ignorant race; whilst, on the contrary, they are, in the more improved districts of Scotland at least, so well versed in the details of their profession, that there is scarcely a class in the community distinguished by a greater variety of knowledge. Instead of considering a real farmer, indeed, as an ignorant clown, he ought to be accounted, not only the most valuable, but also one of the best-informed individuals, regarding all those useful arts, on which must depend the prosperity and happiness of a great country.'

Having assisted the farmer in the arrangement of the system which he ought to adopt, Sir J. Sinclair proceeds in his second chapter to details of actual experience, or to specify the most important features in the Scotch system of husbandry, as it respects both the cultivation of an arable farm and the maintenance of its stock. The information, which has been collected from numerous and respectable correspondents, is exhibited under the following heads: Ridging, — Manuring, — Ploughing, - Fallowing, -The crops to be cultivated, The rotations of crops to be adopted, - Sowing, and covering the seed, - Weeding,- Harvesting the grain,Preparing it for market, Soiling or feeding stock with cut green food, Whether it is proper to have any part of the farm in permanent pasture, and the best mode of making hay.

If

If we found it impossible to do justice to the multifarious contents of the former chapter, we are still less able in the present instance to detail the numerous facts which are here collected. We must therefore confine ourselves to the mention of a few particulars. According to this report, we learn that there is no country in Europe where calcined lime is used to so great an extent, and in such quantities, as in the most improved and improving parts of Scotland;' (p. 169.)that the growth of wheat has greatly increased in Scotland, and that it is cultivated in many districts where it was formerly unknown, and even in situations 500 or 600 feet above the level of the sea;' (p. 240.)-that no species of grain succeeds better in Scotland than the oat;' (p. 250.)—that, owing to the humidity of the climate, bosses or cones constructed of rafters, are introduced in the harvesting of grain, for the purpose of keeping the middle of corn-stacks hollow; (p. 336.)

that the practice of soiling is now thoroughly established in all the improved districts of Scotland;' (p. 307.) — and that, in making hay, the Lancashire mode of forming the grass into tipples, as soon as mown, is found to be very beneficial, especially in precarious seasons. (p. 401.)

Some general observations are annexed by way of conclusion to a long list of details; and these are followed by a plan for transferring the husbandry of Scotland to England, by which the management of our fields, as that of so many of our gardens has long been, would be transferred' to the natives of Scotland. We copy a part of this plan:

If any proprietor of land in England is convinced that it is for his own, and for the public interest, to alter the system of husbandry adopted on his estate, the following plan is submitted to his consideration.

*The practice of forming the tipple is thus described:

In making one, a person with the right hand rolls the swathe inward, until he has a little bunch, then the same is done by the left, until both meet and form 8 to 12lb. weight or thereabouts. This bundle is set upon end against the legs or between the feet. A rope is twisted of the grass, while the bundle is supported in this manner, which is tied round the bundle near the top of it; and from the top are drawn up a few straggling stems, which are twisted to make the tipple taper into a point, and give it as much a conical shape as possible. After standing a few hours, they become so smooth on the outside, that the heaviest rains seldom wet them through, and when wet they are soon dried again. As soon as ready, they are put into the summer rick, or even the winter stack if very dry; but are never opened out or ted, to make them dry, as they never require it. By this method, not a leaf is lost, and the hay is nearly as green as a leaf dried in a book.'

• To

To the young and active landlord, it might be expedient to examine upon the spot, the real state of Scotch husbandry, in the more improved districts, to see the manner in which it is conducted, and the effects that have resulted from it, and to ascertain how far such a plan is applicable to the estate he possesses.

If an excursion to Scotland is either inconvenient or impracticable, it would be necessary to consult with those who are thoroughly acquainted with the system proposed to be adopted, cautiously avoiding such as are more likely to attend to their own interest, than the advantage of their employers.

If the proprietor has a farm in his own occupation, it might be proper to procure a superintendant or bailiff from Scotland, whose example might tend to remove the prejudices of the farmers in the neighbourhood, against the new system which it was proposed to establish.

If any farm, from 300 to 500 acres of arable land, were accessible, it might be proper to let it to some industrious Scotch farmer, with a view of opening the eyes of the other farmers to the advantages of the new system.

The proprietor must necessarily make up his mind to the granting of leases for twenty-one years, to the natives of the county, and of twenty-five years, to any stranger brought into it, otherwise he need not expect that an improved system will be introduced.

The leases should be granted on liberal terms, with regard to covenants, but with a proper increase of rent, partly perhaps depending on the price of grain, to prevent any material defalcation in the relative income of the estate.

The outlays of the proprietor must depend upon his ability to expend money on the improvement of his estate. What is executed by a tenant, is in general done with economy and judginent; but it is not right to cripple the exertions of a new tenant, by compelling him to lay out, on permanent improvements, that capital that ought to be devoted to the purchase of stock, &c. and to the cropping and manuring the soil.

If these measures were generally adopted, there is every reason to believe, that the income derived from at least ten millions of acres in England, might be doubled, and the produce considerably increased.

• Some recommend the plan of sending the sons of the farmers, for one or more years, to be taught the art of husbandry, in the districts where it is most skilfully practised. This is a slow, but, at the same time, a sure mode of obtaining the object in view, provided the young men are obliged to put their hand to labour of every kind, and are not suffered to ramble idly about the country.

But, on the whole, the introduction of new farmers, where they can be procured, is the best plan to be adopted.'

We perceive not the necessity of this importation of new farmers; nor do we subscribe to the idea that a Scotish agriculturist would double the present crops of England. We would learn from our northern fellow-subjects: but why must

we