60 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 



boats at Anstruther, but a few years ago a fine new harbour was 

 constructed, at a cost of between L.60,000 aud L.70,000, and now 

 the fleet is a large one. In the Anstruther district, which in- 

 cbides all the fishing stations in the county, the number of boats 

 in 1873 was 787 ; the number of fishermen and boys, 2911 ; the 

 number of fish-curers, 42 ; the number of coopers, 86 ; the value 

 of boats, L.27,675 ; the value of nets, L.53,445 ; and the value of 

 lines, L.14,-485. The total estimated value was thus L.9o,605, 

 or about L.20,000 belov>' Buckie, the highest valued district in 

 Scotland. 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE LAND ON THE ESTATE 

 OF BAEBRECK, ARGYLLSHIRE. 



By Rear-Admiral Campbell of Barbreck. 

 [Premium — The Gold Medal] 



The following report has reference to the drainage, &c., on the 

 farms of Leregychonie and Barvullen. 



This is a plain of about 130 acres in extent, from 28 to 38 

 feet above the level of the sea, having the advantage of all day 

 sun even in winter. It was, eight years ago, waste land, so soft 

 as to be dangerous, and even sometimes fatal to cattle and sheep. 



At the lower extremity a rude dyke was thrown across, to 

 form a mill-dam, which was fed by mountain streams ; and in 

 very wet weather a great part of the land was submerged. On 

 the water subsiding in spring, sheep from the neighbouring 

 mountains died in great numbers from eating the herbage which 

 had been under stagnant water. 



The bases of the surrounding hills (for the plain is so sur- 

 rounded) had afforded the only arable ground on the respective 

 farms, and these w'ere cropped to the edge of the morass, so that 

 the best of the land, probably for ages, had been washed down 

 to the plain below, where the sour and stagnant water of course 

 prevented any healthy vegetation ; and a deep bed of the richest 

 possible loam lay there worse than useless. 



Throughout this plain, with the exception of about 20 acres 

 (where the moss is deep), the subsoil is gravel, and is covered by 

 from 3 to 5 feet of loam and moss. 



It was found that the levels admitted of the mill-dam being 

 placed close to the mill, instead of a quarter of a mile from it, 

 and hclow the place chosen for the outfall of the drainage of this 

 singularly valuable subject; and the whole plain was open 

 drained preparatory to thorough drainage. 



After two years the ground became solid enough to admit of 



