40 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 



turnips by sheep, and find that the system is specially advan- 

 tageous to the cultivation of barley. The sharp stimulating 

 manure left on the land by the sheep is easily within the range of 

 the barley roots, and is found to have a most beneficial effect on 

 the crop. On the richer soils along the coast, the yield varies 

 from 5 to 8 quarters, and in the inland parts from 4 to 5i quarters 

 per acre. The weight per bushel ranges from 54 lbs. to 57 lbs. 

 The quality and colour of the grain are invariably very fine. Che- 

 valier is by far the most popular variety, and is grown on almost 

 every farm. From 2 to 3| bushels of seed are given to the acre. 

 Oats. — The acreage under oats in Fifeshire was in — 



1870, . . 38,.574 



1873, . . 39,242 



1874, . . 38,035 



1875, . . 37,646 



1856, . . 42,327| 

 1857,. . . 42,219 



1868, . . 40,103 



1869, . . 39,274 



Decrease, since 1S56, . . 4681|. 



It will thus be seen that oats, like wheat, is gradually lessen- 

 ing a little in importance in the programme of the Fifeshire 

 farmer. Since 1873 there has been a yearly decrease of about 

 100 acres in the acreage sown with this hardy variety. Fifeshire 

 stands eighth in Scotland as an oat-producing county, and is 

 closely followed by several others. Aberdeenshire has about five 

 times its breadth under oats, and Perth nearly twice; while 

 Banff, Forfar, and Ayr exceed it by upwards of 12,000 acres. 

 But, though behind several others in point of acreage, Fifeshire 

 will compare with almost any other county in Scotland with 

 respect to the yield or value of the crop. All over the county the 

 oat-crop is generally a very fine one, heavy, equal, and very rich. 

 An excellent return is usually afforded, and the quality of the 

 grain is the very finest to be had anywhere. In fact, the best 

 grain crops we have ever seen growing were along the sea-board 

 of Fifeshire. A few fields on the east coast this year were, to 

 say the least, magnificent. When cut, the stooks were most 

 marvellously thick and tall ; the " heads " of the grain being 

 very unusually rich; while the straw was of the very best quality, 

 Oats may be called the first crop in the rotation, and are alv/ays 

 grown after lea. The lea land, or as much of it as possible, is 

 ploughed during winter, and being exposed to the ameliorating 

 influences of the frost and wintry atmosphere, yields more easily 

 to the harrows than if left untouched till spring. It is of very 

 great importance for the cultivation of oats, as indeed for all 

 kinds of grain, that a good tilth be obtained, and, generally speak- 

 ing, no trouble is spared in Fifeshire in harrowing the land 

 thoroughly. "Wlien grain of any description is grown for a number 

 of successive years on the same farm, it deteriorates very con- 

 siderably in quality and productiveness, but the Fifeshire i'arniers 

 are careful to change their seed frequently, and thereby they 



