COUNTIES OF EDINBURGH AND LINLITHGOW. 9 



In the low country, 60,000 Scotch acres, @ £6 5 = £375,C00 

 „ moorlands, 60,000 „ @ 2 10 = 150,000 



„ hills, 60,000 „ @ 6 3 = 18,750 



Total No. of acres, 180,000 „ @ 3 3 = ^'543,750 



The same author throws some light upon the sheep and horses 

 kept at that time. A small number of black-facecl sheep was 

 bought in from year to year, generally from Tweeddale, the wool 

 of which was coarse, and the fleece seldom worth a shilling, 

 while the carcass rarely weighed over 12 lbs. per quarter. On the 

 lower grounds a better class was kept, chiefly of the Cheviot breed; 

 in some cases they were crossed with Herefords, in others with 

 Bakewell species. These gave a fleece worth four times the 

 amount of the blackfaces, and the weight rose from 12 lbs. to 25 

 lbs. per quarter. About 5000 horses were used for husbandry ; 

 of these one-half were home reared, the remainder coming 

 from Linlithgow and Lanark. The amount annually paid for 

 imported horses amounted to something like L.6000. After the 

 year 1784, value in horses ran up considerably. Best sizes, 16 

 hands and upwards, which were previously sold at L.18 to L.20', 

 made L.30 to L.35, and the price of smaller animals rose from 

 L.12 or L.14 to L.18 or L20. 



Mr Itobertson asserts that the condition of the labourinc^ classes 

 was at that time somewhat ameliorated. Their cottaiires were more 

 comfortable than formerly, being larger, better lighted, and warmer. 

 The kailyard, or plantation of cabbages, in the front was also 

 common, and not a few kept poultry, the produce of which 

 brought a good price in the Edinburgh market. The furniture 

 consisted of two beds, a few chairs or stools, table, chest of 

 drawers, press, &c., and a cuckoo-clock. Oatmeal with kail-brose 

 formed the principal part of their food. 



Another practical writer of that day added much to the litera- 

 ture of agriculture. We allude to Lord Kames, who wrote in an 

 easy and interesting style, and published a work known as the 

 " Gentleman Farmer." In it he discusses at 2;reat length the 

 question of oxen versus horses for beasts of draught and burden, 

 agriculturally considered, and finally winds up in favour of the 

 former, making out that in the course of twelve years the 

 difference of expense between the keep of a horse and an ox is 

 L.74, 4s., or an average of over L.G per year. 



We now come to what may be called the era of improvements 

 and inventions in farm implements and machinery, when gniiu 

 winnowers superseded the use of through draughts in thatched 

 barns, or the " gentle breezes on fairy knowes ; " when the flail 

 gave place to the thrashing machine ; and the old-fashioned 

 " rippler of the ground" made way for the swing-])lough; but we 

 must forbear, lest our lengthening notes be thought tedious. 



