COUNTIES OF EDINBURGH AND LINLITHGOW. 15 



notation of Cropping. 



The rotation of cropping varies miicli in both counties, depend- 

 ing upon the quality of the land, climate, and so on. Since the 

 production of meat has become of paramount importance, there 

 is even greater variation in the methods pursued than in former 

 times, when corn and potato growing on a large scale were con- 

 sidered necessary in order to produce a satisfactory rent-roll. 

 In some of the best farmed districts, the ordinary six-course shift 

 still prevails, namely — 



1. Oats. 



2. Potatoes, with part Beans. 



3. Wheat. 



4. Turnips. 



5. Barley. 



6. Hay or Pasture. 



This rapid succession of grain crops is naturally very trying to 

 the land, and in order to keep it in good order, the potato crop is 

 invariably manured heavily. Many farmers are now strong in 

 the belief that two years in pasture in the j)lace of one would be 

 preferable, as there would then be more grass in summer for stock. 

 As it is, there is very little land devoted to pasturage ; hence 

 both the cattle and sheep stocking of many holdings in summer 

 is reduced to a minimum quantity, while in winter it has to be 

 considerably increased on account of consuming straw and the 

 turnip crop. This importation of stock entails much risk from 

 the introduction of disease, particularly when pleuro and foot- 

 and-mouth are prevalent. As meat-making, rather than corn- 

 growing, is now, or at least ought to be, the chief object of the 

 farmer, it seems only reasonable to suppose that a larger extent 

 in grass and a less breadth in corn would bring in the most profit. 

 In some parts the rotation stands thus — 



1. Oats. 4. Hay. 



2. Potatoes and Turnips. 5. Pasture. 



3. Barley or Wheat. 



This five-course shift is very common in some parts of Linlith- 

 gow, and is found to answer well where a part of the stock is 

 reared upon the farm. Of course the breadth of potatoes grown 

 on such holdings is not large, so that the green crop break is 

 chiefly devoted to turnips for wintering cattle and sheep. 

 Another six-course shift is — 



This is generally observed where the land is a strong clay, but 

 on those portions wliere the soil is fairly free, grass is taken two 

 years, making thus a seven-shift course. On a few holdings we 

 find the four-course adopted, but this is not general. Indeed, 

 glancing at the notes we took when making a tour through the 

 counties, we find no less than six or seven courees which are 



