REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE. 49 



position for beans, though looking to amount of cultivated land 

 and nature of soil, one might naturally expect a greater acreage ; 

 but the wetness of climate in the latter part of the season when 

 the plants are in flower, is against a profitable return in bulk and 

 quality of seeds. The extent under beans in Cunningham in 

 1819 was 1555 imp. acres, from which we deduce the total acre- 

 age in Ayrshire at that time as fully 4000 acres, whilst in 1856- 

 57 the total area reached only 3400, so that bean culture has 

 fallen off. By the Fiars prices for 1864 beans in Ayrshire are 

 now rating nearly 2s. per quarter higher than wheat, and we may 

 reasonably look for a greater acreage soon. Wheat, seemingly, 

 must be given up entirely. Pease as a separate crop are un- 

 known in Ayrshire. The time of sowing preferred for beam 

 (weather permitting) is early in March on the heavier soils, but 

 usually later on the lighter, and as we near the sea. 



Oats over the whole county occupy from one-half to two- 

 thirds of the total acreage under tillage, and four times the acre- 

 age that is under wheat. The total land under oats in 1856- "57 

 was 62,000 acres. The kind of oat almost universally grown 

 throughout the inland parts, and very common, too, even in the 

 shore districts, is locally called ''Tain Finlay." It is a thin- 

 skinned, long white oat, always furnished, when pure, with a 

 very long betit awn, to which, with the frequent want of dry, hot 

 sunny weather in August, is attributable the comparatively light 

 weight per bushel ; although the consecutive crops have also to 

 do with the weight, as the grain of the second crop seldom fills 

 well. When broadcast beans are taken out of lea, and succeeded 

 by oats, that of course alters the case entirely ; but when green- 

 cropping is purposed, any little gain made from the second crop 

 of oats (if thrown out), would be more than compensated for by 

 the greater fertility of the land when again laid down to grass ; 

 but, again, with three-fifths of the land under hay (ryegrass-seed) 

 and pasture, and one-fifth under wheat and roots, we need the 

 other one-fifth (or two years) to be under oats, or possibly we 

 may run short of fodder ; and that is where the want of perma- 

 nent meadow-land for cutting, in the lower parts of Ayrshire, is 

 felt. An eight or nine years course, with no wheat, in these 

 times, would surely be preferable — say, oats — green-crop and 

 drilled-beans — oats — green-cut hay, with plenty of clover — and 4 

 or 5 years in pasture. The tl Tam Finlay" oat is somehow pecu- 

 liarly suitable to Ayrshire. The writer has often persuaded far- 

 mers of the best oat-growing inland districts to give a trial to 

 some of the East country varieties, but after contrasting them 

 fairly for two or three years, they aye steadfastly fell back on 

 their fail-me-never friend Tam. Taking everything into account 

 — straw, measure, meal, and adaptability of plant — we question 

 if a better variety could be got for the great breadth of Ayrshire. 



D 



