ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 43 



SO satisfied is one large fanner (whose farm is rented at about 

 L.3 an acre) with the advantages of the system, and the grass- 

 producing properties of his land, that he contemplates changing 

 into eight shifts, taking three years' grass instead of two. 



The land is sown out with the barley crop, the grass seeds 

 being sown by some farmers along with the grain, and by others 

 a few days afterwards. In some cases the land is rolled before 

 the seeds are sown, and when the seeds have been committed to 

 the soil, the land is harrowed with chain harrows and rolled 

 again. This system, though not pursued by many, is a most 

 satisfactory one. It would be very difficult to give any indica- 

 tion of what is the most universally used mixture of grass and 

 clover seeds. Difterent soils need different mixtures, and the 

 views of farmers on the subject are very varied in this, as in 

 every other county in the kingdom. It is seldom that less than 16 

 lbs. or more than" 20 lbs. of ryegrass, with about 8 lbs. of clover 

 seeds — red and white — are sown to the acre. When intended 

 for hay a small proportion of cow grass is added. The few grass 

 parks which are annually let in the inland and higher lying parts 

 of the county usually realise from L.l to L.4 per acre. 



Boot Crops. 

 Turnips. — The turnip crop is a very valuable one. It is very 

 carefully cultivated, and grows exceedingly well. The number 

 of acres under turnips was in- — 



It will thus be seen that the breadth put under turnips- has 

 neither decreased nor increased to any appreciable extent during 

 the past twenty years. A quarter of a century ago only a very 

 few swedes were grown, but now more than one-half of the 

 whole turnip break is sown with this valuable variety. 

 Farmers find that they are much preferable to any other kind 

 of turnips for feeding purposes, and though they require heavier 

 manuring, yet they are more profitable than yellows. This latter 

 variety, however, affords a heavy yield, and suit young stock 

 well; while they are found to be well adapted for beginning 

 feeders. In most of the northern counties in Scotland, where 

 grain is not so largely cultivated as in Fifeshire, the turnip crop 

 is often the most profitable crop of the rotation, and though it 

 does not rank so comparatively high in value in this county, yet 

 it is a very important crop. The turnip break is the fourth in 

 the rotation. As soon as the land is cleared of wheat and the 

 harvest can be finished, the stubble fields are ploughed, and 

 ploughed most thoroughly they are, the furrow varying in depth 



