16 ox THE AGRICULTUEE OF THE 



observed on different farms, so that a fall account of the various 

 rotations, and the reasons for their adoption given hy the farmers 

 Vv^ho practise them, would swell out this Eeport to an undesirable 

 length. We now proceed to notice each kind of crop in detail, 

 with the mode of preparation, cj^uantity of seed given, method of 

 harvesting, and other matters connected therewith. 



Grain Crops. 



The total area under cereals of all kinds in 1875 amounted to 

 38,816 acres in Edinburgh, and 18,154 in Linlithgow. Good 

 crops and line samples are usually produced, and the aim of the 

 farmer is generally directed to have the seed put down soon in 

 the season, for he knows that an early sowing season is often the 

 precursor of an early harvest, and this sometimes makes a differ- 

 ence between securing the grain well and only moderately well. 

 Great discussion has lately taken place as to the desirability of 

 the British farmer growing a much smaller area of grain than he 

 now does, and increasing the production of meat as much as pos- 

 sible ; and while this has been done to a certain extent as re^xards 

 wheat, we do not know that the Lothian farmer could, with ad- 

 vantage, reduce his oat or barley crop very materially, as straw 

 is needed for the winterage of cattle, bedding, &c. But this by 

 the way. Harvest usually commences in the early districts from 

 the be!_^innin£^ to the middle of Auojust, beinsj often a fortnig:ht 

 more backward in the hill country, where the climate is not so 

 favourable, and the soil, as a rule, is thinner and less fertile. If 

 anything, corn is cut before it is quite so ripe as it used to be 

 when operated upon by the sickle. Wheat, particularly, is said 

 to be finer in the sample when taken somewhat early, but, of 

 course, moderation ought to be exercised in this as in other mat- 

 ters, for if cut much too soon, the grain becomes shrivelled when 

 dry. Cutting is now mostly done by the reaping machine, although 

 on very small farms, and in exceptional cases upon larger, the 

 scythe is still used, and when the crops are laid or twisted, even 

 the antiquated sickle is yet occasionally resorted to. Now and 

 then we see small farmers work upon the reciprocity system, 

 several joining in the purchase of a reaping-machine, the labourers 

 moving from farm to farm as required. In most places, a few 

 extra harvest hands can be obtained from other branches of local 

 industry, and these, with the regular farm labourers, generally 

 succeed in taking off the crop in two or three weeks. From eight 

 to ten persons are recj^uired for each machine in addition to the 

 driver and the man who puts off the sheaves. The harvest 

 labourers work about ten hours per day, but sheafing is much 

 easier work than hand-reaping used to be. A machine will cut 

 about 6 to 8 acres in a day ; some a little more, others a little 

 less, according to weight of crop, whether it is favourable for 



