LMPKOVEMENTS ON THE ESTATE OF DENBRAE, FIFESIIIHE. 109 



4 feut tlccp iuid o feet wide, had to lie made all roimd, and 

 cleaned uut every year to keep it diy, and to maintain an open 

 exit for the trenches cut across the field. It was impossible to 

 reclaim this sort of land, — at least, to be of any advantage ; the 

 subsoil beinn- too soft to admit of tile-drainage, and too level to 

 have sulUcieut tail, as the drains would soon become useless 

 and fill up. ¥ov these reasons it was better to keep it in 

 pasture. 



Although the farm house was very much out of repair when I 

 went to it, I resoh'ed to put up with it until the other more 

 necessary improvements were accomplished. These being done, 

 the inside was completely cleared out and refitted. Two oriel 

 windows were made, and a wooden porch erected at the front 

 door ; and a small piece of ground, surrounded with a wall, for a 

 flower-plot. A lead pipe was brought from a deep well at the 

 outside, and the water brought into the house by means of a 

 force-pump, which was a great convenience. 



Three new cottages for ploughmen were also erected, eacli 

 having three rooms and a pantry, witli coal house and pig styes 

 at the back ; the floors were laid with paving tiles, the walls 

 lathed and plastered, and the roofs slated. The stones required 

 for these and other building pur]ioses were obtained from those 

 blasted in the fields and drains, which was the best means 

 of disposing of them, also sa\dng a good deal of trouble and 

 expense, which would have been incurred had these biuldings 

 been proceeded with any sooner. 



Many other minor improvements were effected, but I think I 

 have mentioned the principal works, which were all carried out 

 under my superintendence, according to plans made out by my 

 father and myself. The subsequent increase of rent obtained 

 for the farm amply re-paid interest on outlay — the previous rent 

 being £250 a-year ; and after these improvements were finished, 

 and the land drained and cleaned, it was let for £400 — giving a 

 rise of £150. The total sum expended was about £2500, so the 

 increase of rent gave interest equal to 6 per cent., which was 

 undouljtedly good interest for landed property. 



I have often remarked that, if the previous tenant had re- 

 mained two or three years longer, it would have been almost 

 impossible to clean the land ; and the cost of improvements, 

 drainmg, &c., would have been much greater on accoimt of the 

 great rise in wages as well as materials. There was also more 

 encouragement at that time to reclaim waste lands, the prices 

 obtained for farm ])roduce being much higher^ than they are 

 now, and the agricultural interest being in a flourishing state 

 — no signs of depression being then heard of, either caused by 

 bad seasons or from foreign competition, — grain of good quality 

 always commanding a ready market and a good price. It is to 



