ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 13 



we are inclined to tliink that in tlie matter of house accommo- 

 dation for the labouring classes, Fifeshire stands second to no 

 other county in the kingdom. An immense stretch of fencing 

 has also been erected since 1850 ; but still much, very much, 

 remains to be done in this respect. Eing fencing is pretty com- 

 plete, but there is a great want of interior or dividing fences. 

 Every successive year, however, adds greatly to supply this much- 

 felt deficiency, and before many years have past, it will in all 

 probability be fully supplied. The true character or real value 

 of these, and all similar improvements, must of course be found 

 reflected in the rent-roll ; and thus the following table of the 

 total valuation of the county (exclusive of railways and burghs) 

 at various periods since 1674 will be noted with interest : — 



An increase during the past twenty-five years of L.100,696, 

 or an average of close on L.4036 a-year, is very creditable indeed, 

 though it may not quite compare with the rise in the rental dur- 

 ing the same period in sonie other counties, especially in the 

 northern regions of Scotland. It must be kept in mind that, as 

 already stated, and as borne out by the table of figures just 

 given, the principal reclamations and improvements which go to 

 increase the valuation of a county were executed in Fife previous 

 to 1850, while in these other counties it is chiefly since then, or 

 shortly before that date, that those operations were carried out. 

 The considerably greater increase during the past half century 

 in the value of grazing land, compared to arable land, has also 

 tended to retard Fifeshire in the general advance of rental. 



Some half a century ago the county of Fife occupied a slightly 

 higher position than it does now in the comparative valuation list 

 of counties of Scotland. Its valuation for its acreage, or say its 

 valuation per acre, compared with that per acre in the other thirty- 

 two counties in Scotland, was slightly higher then than now. Not 

 that Fifeshire has been receding or sluggish in the race, on the 

 contrary it has been gradually and steadily moving onwards, 

 but other counties (taking up the good work begun by the farmers 

 of Fife and southern agriculturists generally, and carrying it on, 

 too, with all that spirit and zeal so characteristic of our Scottish 

 farmers) have been gaining ground upon it. Fife stands seven- 

 teenth among the Scottish counties with respect to gross acreage, 



