52 ON THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



expert hand to break H yard per day. Cross roads are also 

 numerous and well kept. Tolls still exist in this part of the 

 country, and notwithstanding the extensive railway system and 

 the various canals,' which, combined, take most of the heavy 

 traffic, a large yearly revenue is collected by the gate-keepers. 



Bidldings. — Within the past forty years, and especially in the 

 last twenty-five years, the position of the Lothian farmer has been 

 considerably elevated in the social scale. Old-fashioned farm- 

 houses have, in consequence, given way to neat modern dwellings, 

 combining convenience and comfort with architectural beauty of 

 design. As regards the old farm-steadings, we may remark that 

 they are not quite so central as could be desired, but this 

 mainly arises from land having been added after the building 

 site had been fixed. Modern farm-steads are better situated, and 

 contain, for the most part, a commodious barn, with steam power 

 thrashing machine and grinding mill, a good granary, well venti- 

 lated and roomy stables, and convenient byres, loose-boxes, and 

 piggeries. These often enclose a square, in the centre of which 

 is a good paved yard. Uncovered courts for cattle are still com- 

 mon. On almost every farm comfortable cottages have been 

 erected for the labourers, so that they are conveniently near their 

 work, and are within easy reach whenever their services are 

 required. The cottage is invariably furnished with a good living 

 room, a place to cook, wash, and bake in, with two at least, 

 and often three, bedrooms. A plot of garden ground is also 

 attached, and the thrift of the cottager is seenA'^ the fine 

 crops of vegetables which adorn his kitchen allotm/^t. In fact, 

 an air of quiet comfort everywhere seems to pervade t'^e working 

 classes, and in no section of Lothian amculture has^n:iei.e been 

 more melioration during the past Cjuarter of a c it^i^^ry than 

 in the condition of these honest tillers of the soil. P ^^'^^ leaving 

 the subject of buildings, we may notice one point w'^^y -^^^rops up 

 in our memory. There are few, if any, covered (^ pasture, ihe 

 importance of having the manure heap protectf-^-^ e.Ytpenyfvom 

 the scorching rays of the sun as from the driposed of z?-^-^ ' ^ 4ls, 

 must be our excuse for noticing this great omisl^P^^^^ ^^ ):?>\\s> 

 experiments have been conducted from time to time, which pro^e 

 pretty conclusively the superiority of dung made or kept under 

 cover over that which is allowed to bleach in the sun or be 

 washed by frequent rains, and this should be sufficient to set the 

 agricultural mind a-thinking. Every large home-stead ought, in 

 our opinion, to be furnished with a covered shed for manure — an 

 important but not a very costly requisite ! 



Cidtixation hy Steam. 



Steam cultivation is not nearly so much practised as might 

 naturally be expected where agriculture is so well understood as 



