30 ON THE xVGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE.- 



majority of cases, especially in the best arable districts, the six- 

 shift course obtains, viz.: — 



1. Oats. 



2. Potatoes or Beans, or both. 



3. Wlieat. 



4. Turnips. 



5. Barley, and 



6. Hav or Pasture. 



This quick continuous succession of grain crops is necessarily 

 very trying to the land, and also heavy on the labour and manure 

 bills ; and on these and various other grounds we would decidedly 

 prefer the seven-shift course — i.e., two years' grass instead of one. 

 It is said (and probably with some degree of truth) that the soil 

 of Fifeshire does not suit grass, and (which is more doubtful) 

 that it is much too highly rented to admit of its being kept two 

 years under pasture, or one year hay and another pasture. But 

 were the land thoroughly limed and sown out in good condition 

 or not so much exhausted during the rotation, we are pretty cer- 

 tain (in fact we have had substantial proof of it) that grass would 

 grow at least moderately, except perhaps on a few of the very 

 strongest clay farms. And as to the financial part of the question, 

 we are still more confident that the substitution of the seven 

 shifts for the six would be a most advantageous change. Besides 

 putting the land into a better and richer condition, we are satis- 

 fied that this system of rotation would yield a larger return to 

 the tenant at the end of say two courses, or fourteen years. In 

 fact, not a few hold that at end of even one rotation it would 

 show larger profits. Its advantages over the six-shift course are 

 many and various. As already hinted, less manure and less 

 labour, two of the most important items of the farmer's expen- 

 diture, would be required, while it would enable farmers to keep 

 a larger number of cattle and sheep during summer. As matters 

 presently stand, only a few, a very few, cattle and sheep can be 

 grazed in the county. In fact, one might travel for miles through 

 some districts durincj the summer months and not see a single 

 animal of the cattle and sheep species, excepting perhaps a few 

 cows which are kept at each farm to supply milk, and a few 

 "pet" ewes and lambs which run about the houses. A large 

 portion of the field sown out with grass seeds is left under hay, 

 and hence it is only in the higher lying and inland parts where 

 several farmers take two years' grass that any grazing can be had. 

 It is argued by many farmers, that while their land continues to 

 be rented at its present figure they cannot afford to employ it, or 

 any part of it, in the rearing of stock; in short, that the only 

 way in which they can make a profitable overturn of their money 

 is to raise the greatest possible quantity of grain and potatoes. 

 Though the majority argue thus, a good many take a different 

 view of the matter. One of the leading agriculturists of the 

 county with whom we happened to be discussing the question 

 said, " It appears to me that it would be profitable to breed more 



