REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE. 59 



previous years, and it may be probably as long again ere such 

 another suitable season comes round. 



The high " crooked " ridges of former days are now nearly 

 all levelled down and straightened, mostly prior to 25 years 

 ago. though, much of this kind of work lias been executed 

 within that period ; and even still, fields laid off into these high 

 and wide " bowed-riggs " may be seen here and there. The 

 ridges now are of 15 and 18 feet widths, and slightly rounded. 

 Wide level breadths with few open furrows will not do in Ayr- 

 shire. Lea land is commonly ploughed with a furrow of from 

 5 to 6 inches depth, and the stubble ground for the second crop, 

 and " faughing " for green crop, always from an inch or two to 

 three inches more (in the latter case generally with three horses 

 abreast). The productiveness of the consecutive crops of oats is 

 due entirely to the greater depth of furrow, and the grass roots 

 and foggage being by that time thoroughly converted into plant 

 food. Ploughing has probably been brought nearer perfection 

 in Ayrshire than in any other part of Scotland, and consequently 

 of the kingdom. During the month of February, indeed, when 

 the ploughing of the lea land is mostly proceeded with, most of 

 the farmers and all the ploughmen get half (aye three-fourths) 

 crazy on the subject. Every parish has its annual ploughing 

 match, and some of them several. Annual ploughing matches 

 were entered into with Renfrewshire a few years back, each 

 county picking out and sending ironed for the contest ten of 

 their respective best men, but Ayrshire proved too heavy metal 

 for her " wee brither of the wast countrie," and so Renfrew with- 

 drew. 



Till within the last 15 to 20 years, the "sickle" was in 

 general use for cutting down the crops, but about that time the 

 " scythe " came into vogue, and is now, except by those who 

 employ a " reaper/' by far the most common. On many of the 

 small Ayrshire fields of from 5 to 8 acres, in the inland districts, 

 indeed, even in comparison with the "reaper," the scythe is yet 

 the best implement for speed, cheapness, and making a good 

 job. More fodder is always got by using the scythe, especially 

 with rounded ridges, which as stated are still common on strong 

 lands. Beans are always reaped with the sickle, and sheaves of 

 drawn oat-straw for bands are carried along by the shearers. 

 Reaping-machines were pretty general on all the larger farms 

 at harvest of 1861 ; harvest of 1862 they were still more com- 

 mon ; and since, almost every farm of 100 acres and upwards, 

 has. at least one of these whirring cheerily along. Excepting 

 some half-dozen or so, the "reapers" are all made in the 

 county ; being two-horse manual-delivery tilting-machines, cut- 

 ting from 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches, and at a cost generally of about 

 6s. per imperial acre, including wages, extra corn for horses, oil, 



