210 Mr. Smith on the Native Agriculture of the Lews. 



was of less consequence than the venation, and the presence or absence of 

 a central receptacle ; others in which it was the reverse, and others in 

 which the position and shape of the sori and form of the involucre were 

 chiefly to bo depended on. The whole he illustrated by specimens." 



Dr. R. D. Thomson read a communication from Dr. Thomas Thomson, 

 jun., giving an account of his travels into Thibet, of which a full account 

 has since been published in Sir William Hooker's London Journal of 

 Botany. 



5th January, 1848. — The President in the Chair. 



The following members were elected : — Messrs. George Robins Booth, 

 James King, Andrew Fergus, John Moffat. The Librarian intimated 

 that John Macgregor, Esq., M.P. for this city, had presented a copy of 

 his works to the Society. 



The following paper was then read : — 



XXXII. — Some Peculiarities in the Native Agriculture of the Lews. 

 By James Smith Esq. 



About two years ago, I had the honour of laying before this Society 

 some account of the Island of Lews, and of the condition of its inhabitants. 



By the activity of its wealthy and generous proprietor, extensive opera- 

 tions are in motion, which will progressively lead to an improved condition 

 of the people, whilst it is to be hoped that an ample pecuniary reward 

 will result to the proprietor, in addition to the pleasure which will arise 

 to his benevolent feelings, by having promoted industry, and with it the 

 increasing comforts and comparative riches of the people. 



Whilst these great changes are going on, it is but justice to the people 

 to record some excellences in their primitive agriculture, fitted for the 

 peculiar circumstances in which they have been placed — exhibiting an 

 extraordinary acuteness in their observation of natural causes. It is a 

 curious fact, that many of the practices now recommended by the most 

 forward improvers of the present day, as new and important discoveries, 

 have been in universal practice by those islanders from time immemorial. 



I shall first speak of their treatment of their cattle and their manure. 



In a country so exposed as the Lews i3 to much rain, and to heavy 

 gales of wind from the Atlantic, <and where there are no trees and no 

 mountains to afford shelter, it becomes essential to provide house covering 

 for their cattle in winter, and, at the same time, a constant covering for 

 their manure, so that none of that precious and essential aid to their 

 cultivation may be wasted by the winds and the water which prevail so 

 plentifully. I speak now of the small tenantry, who possess from one to 

 five acres of cropping land, with a wide range of very indifferent moorish 

 pasture. Their houses consist of a rather long, low, building, the walls 



