6 OX THE AGRICULTURE OF THE 



advancement in Mid and West Lothian. Even then, large tracts 

 of the country were covered with forests, and the pastoral pursuit 

 was almost exclusivelv in the hands of the wealthv, who owned 

 large flocks of sheep, which roamed upon the uplands and de- 

 pastured in the woods. What little arable land was in cultiva- 

 tion was in the hands of the poor, who had neither capital to 

 expend nor energy to carry on their pursuits. The small patches 

 they cultivated were chiefly composed of the best soils in 

 sheltered situations, or the partially alluvial deposits by the 

 sides of the streams. These soils were scourged by succes- 

 sive cropping, rendered filthy by the growth of weeds, and re- 

 duced to extreme poverty, owing to the small amount of manure 

 given. 



The reio'n of David I., which commenced in 1124, was a new 

 era in agricultural improvement. This monarch gave a large 

 share of attention to the cultivation of the land, in which he 

 evinced considerable ability. He founded several agricultural 

 establishments, both in Mid and West Lothian. His grange farm 

 at Linlitho'ow is mentioned as beino; much abreast of the times. 

 Eoused by the noble example of their monarch, the barons also 

 cultivated farms in various parts of the country, so that 

 the agriculture of the counties under notice received an im- 

 petus which was at once salutary and lasting in its effects. 

 David I. also devoted much attention to horticulture, and men- 

 tion is made in his charter of Holyrood of his garden under the 

 castle. 



For many years after the termination of this monarch's reign agri- 

 culture may be said to have retrograded rather than progressed. 

 The prevalence of forests was a great barrier to the extension of 

 husbandry, for, they not only occupied much of the land, but they 

 also afforded shelter to the warriors and freebooters who scoured 

 the country at all seasons, and trampled down the crops of the 

 more peaceful inhabitants. In the early part of the 14th century 

 Edward III. lessened the extent of forest in Mid-Lothian very 

 materially; and mills, kilns, and breweries began to be established 

 throughout the county, thus showing that agriculture was gradu- 

 ally gaining ground and subduing the asperities of the soil. But 

 even then farming was far from being on a satisfactory footing. 

 The tillers of the ground still belonged to the poorer classes of the 

 community, who lacked sufficient capital to carry on their avoca- 

 tions successfully: they, therefoie, performed the duties devolving 

 upon them reluctantly for others rather than willingly for them- 

 selves. This was chiefly owing to the unsatisfactory tenure upon 

 which they held their "farms. They not only rented the land 

 from the proprietor but everything upon it ; who, in turn, at the 

 expiration of the tenancy, claimed everything the farmer possessed. 

 This tenure was called " stcelbovj,'" which, in a modified form, still 



