438 REPORT ON THE RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 



fixed ten-horse power steam engine was procured from Mr Eobert 

 Bridges, North Berwick, which obviates that difficulty for the 

 future. 



The implements employed, in addition to those in ordinary use 

 on the farm, were — 



1st, Two land-reducers, made by the blacksmith, each formed 

 of an iron plate 7 feet by 3 feet, bored for three rows of sabre- 

 shaped knives, set that each cuts separately, which can be loaded 

 to any weight required by stones above the plate. The reducers 

 were very useful, especially for bringing the first furrow of the 

 heather ground to a sufficiently fine tilth for the oat crop ; their 

 advantage being that they cut deeper than the common harrows, 

 and can be drawn across as well as along without tearing up the 

 furrows. 



2d, Finlayson's Norwegian harrows were used for breaking up 

 the turfs after cross-ploughing for turnips. 



'3d, Subsoil-ploughs made by the blacksmith. The plough 

 consists of a long beam with four wheels attached before a single 

 tine, on the Marquis of Tweeddale's principle, with a shill 

 arranged to confine the draught to the line of the preceding 

 plough furrow, made suitable for two, three, or four horses, as 

 required for the density of the subsoil. 



The old land on the farm is enclosed with flag fences, having 

 quickset thorn hedges on the sun side and whins on the other. 

 The new land was thought too poor for thorns; and as whin dress- 

 ings are valuable for fodder, and a mill for bruising them erected 

 at the steading, it was judged advisable to sow all the new lines 

 with double rows of whins on each side. The whins have grown 

 well, make an excellent fence with the flags, and have a pleasant 

 appearance, but don't give the same shelter that thorns do. 

 They are dressed each alternate year, and the cuttings make good 

 food for horses, from the time they come in from grass to the new 

 year. 



The improvement of the 125 acres is complete as to drainage, 

 enclosure, and roads of access. The whole has had a calcareous 

 top-dressing of shell sand or marl. Lime costs from 2s. 9d. to 

 3s. per boll at the harbours, which makes it excessively dear for 

 agricultural purposes. Shell sand is slower in acting, but has 

 one advantage over lime or marl — it does not require to be re- 

 peated. Lime in some form will soon have to be applied exten- 

 sively over the interior of the county, as turnips and grass are 

 becoming uncertain crops without it. 



The proprietor receives the original rent of L.15, 10s., along 

 with 6 per cent, on the L.400 advanced on account of the im- 

 provement of the 82 acres, which sum will be paid up, principal 

 and interest, in twenty-six years, or at the expiry of the reporter's 

 lease in 1886. The statement of the cost and produce of the 



