ON THE AGrJCULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 27 



the noble Earl. Since 1850 the rental of these estates for farms 

 alone has increased by about L.1700, while the revenue to the 

 landlord from limeworks has advanced from L.318 to L.900 dur- 

 ing the same period. The limestone is of the Avhite variety, and 

 when burned produces lime of very superior quality. The de- 

 mand for it is yearly increasing, large quantities being exported 

 out of the county. Extensive improvements have been effected 

 of late in the way of draining and building, and though tlie rise 

 in the rental is pretty liigh, yet it does not afford a fair return 

 for the landlord's outlay. There is much need for more fencing 

 on these as on all other estates in the county, but the buildings 

 generally are good ; and arrangements have been (or are being) 

 made for the erection of several new steadings and cottages. On 

 some parts the soil is strong clay and on others light loam. The 

 five-shift rotation obtains for most part, only a very small breadth 

 of potatoes being grown. Continuing our eastern covirse, and as 

 we approach the famous '• East Xeuk," we enter, perhaps, the 

 finest agricultural district of the county. The land all over the 

 East Neuk, though a little strong and retentive in some parts, 

 is sure and very productive, and is rented at high figures, some 

 of it as much as L.4 and L.5 per acre. One small patch, in fact, 

 brings in to its fortunate proprietor the enormous and almost 

 unequalled rent of about L.8 per acre. The estates of Balcarres, 

 belonging to Sir Coutts Lindsay, Bart.; of Balcaskie, tlie property 

 of Sir It. Austruther, Bart., ]\I.P.; Kilconquhar, belonging to Sir 

 John Bethune, Bart; of Charleton, the property of Mr J. A. 

 Thomson ; Gilston, belonging to the heirs of the late Mr Baxter ; 

 and Gibliston, belonging to Mrs Gillespie Smyth, and situated 

 chiefly in the parishes of Kilconquhar, Elie, Abercrombie, and 

 Carnbee, are under the experienced hand of Mr Flockhart, banker, 

 Colinsburgh. The improvements on these estates during the 

 past twenty-five years have consisted chiefly of draining and 

 building, and the sum expended m this way on the various estates 

 during that period has been about L. 42,0 00. The soil varies 

 from thin clay to rich alluvial land, and is rented at from 17s. 6d. 

 to L.4 j)er acre. The increase of rent since 1850 has been on an 

 average about 20 per cent., a few farms having risen as much as 

 50 per cent., while others have not advanced any. The houses are 

 generally in good order and suitable for the farms, but with a few 

 exceptions fencing has been neglected. The farms are generally 

 well supplied with cottages, and " bothies " are now few and far 

 between, the majority of the servants being married. The general 

 system of cropping is the six-course shift, viz., 1st, oats ; 2d, 

 potatoes, beans, or turnips (or fallow) ; 3d, wheat ; 4th, turnips ; 

 5th, barley; and 6th, hay. Very few cattle or sheep are bred 

 on these estates, but a very large number of both are bought in 

 and fed, the sheep eating the turnips off the light land. Ap- 



