ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 41 



escape damage in this way. Large quantities of seed are taken 

 from England and the Lothians, and some from the north of 

 Scotland. Oats from the latter region do very well indeed. On 

 the richer soils the yield per acre ranges from 6 to 9 quarters, 

 and on the moderate land from 4| to 7 quarters. The weight 

 per bushel varies from 41 lbs. to 44 lbs, and would probably 

 average about 42 lbs. Potato oats are grown very extensively, 

 and suit the rich land admirably. On the higher and poorer 

 soils, Sandy, Early Angus, English Birley are generally preferred; 

 while a very fine variety called the Hopetoun oats is also sown 

 on many farms. The quantity of seed given to the acre varies 

 from 4 to 6 bushels; the difference of opinion as to the advan- 

 tages of thick and thin sowing being very great. A considerable 

 quantity of seed is saved by the use of sowing machines. 



Eye, Beans, and Peeis. — Since 1856 the acreage under rye has 

 increased from 678 to 1304 acres. It usually affords a very fair 

 return and is used chiefly for feeding. Beans grow exceedingly 

 well on the heavy land, and it seems a little surprising that they 

 are not cultivated more extensively than they are. In 1856 the 

 breadth under beans was 3602 acres, and this year it was 2483 

 acres. Part of the second field in the rotation is usually put 

 under beans, and we are pretty certain that they afford equally 

 as good a return as potatoes. They are sown both in drills and 

 broadcast; and are sometimes mixed with peas and tares. In 

 1856 there were 456 acres under peas, but this year there were 

 only 109 acres, and this breadth was made up chiefly of numerous 

 small patches. 



Since 1856 the total acreage under corn crops has decreased 

 by no less than 15,693 acres, the figures being— 



1856, . . 104,020 I 1875, . . 88,327 



Decrease, . . . 15,693 



Hay and Chxiss. — It has already been stated that very little 

 hay or grass is grown. The acreage was in — • 



It will thus be seen that the breadth under hay and sown 

 grass, as well as under wheat and oats, has decreased consider- 

 ably during the past twenty years. With respect to acreage of 

 grasses under rotation, Eifeshire stands tenth in Scotland, and is 

 very much exceeded by every other county with an equal breadth 

 of arable land. The introduction of the six-shift rotation con- 

 fines the grass acreage within narrow bounds, and so long as it 

 continues to obtain, of course the cultivation of grass cannot be 



