COUNTIES OF EDINBUKGH AND LINLITHGOW. 59 



south -easterly course, we arrive at the farms of Parkly and Pdc- 

 carton, measuring together o60 acres. They are in the occupa- 

 tion of Mr John Wilson, and consist partly of arable land and 

 partly of hill pasture. He has a nineteen years' lease, and has 

 held his occupation a quarter of a century. The Earl of Selkirk 

 is the proprietor. The rotation of cropping observed is — 1st, 

 oats; 2d, potatoes and turnips; 3d, barley or wheat; 4th, grass, 

 partially mown; and otli grass, wholly depastured. A good 

 sample of wheat is grown, either of the white or Hunter's variety. 

 The potato crop extends to 8 or 10 acres, and consists chiefly of 

 Walker's early, the turnip crop being about equally divided 

 between swedes and the common descriptions. The land is 

 rented at 25s. to 38s. per acre in the neighbourhood, and has 

 gone up 20 per cent, in as many years, but this is less than in 

 some adjoining localities. Steam has been tried by Mr 

 Wilson, and he approves of it vastly. The tackle employed is 

 in the hands of a company. At Broomieknowes, Mr Peter 

 Wilson holds 100 acres of arable land and 150 of pasture from 

 the same landlord. He buys in 5 or 6 score of Cheviot ewes 

 each autumn, and clears them out after taking one crop of lambs. 

 In the summer season he grazes a few cattle upon the upland 

 pasture, and feeds them off in the following winter. At Hill- 

 house, Mr Andrew West occupies 200 acres also belonging to the 

 Earl of Selkirk. This is chiefly an arable farm, with a small 

 extent of hill pasture, and liis method of management does not 

 differ materially from Mr Wilson's. Mr E. Y. Harper, Bridge- 

 end holds 400 acres from Captain Stewart, and farms on the four- 

 shift course, as per agreement, viz., 1st, oats ; 2d, green cro]) ; 

 3d, white crop of some description ; and 4th, grass. The soil is 

 good but variable. Very little permanent stock is kept, Mr 

 Harper buying in and selling out as he thinks desirable, so that 

 his herds and flocks are, in the strict acceptance of the term, 

 ''flying" ones. The farm is nicely undulating, well watered, 

 but perhaps too well wooded, as the pUuitations are a harbour 

 for the wuod-pigeon, which is an intolerable nuisance in this 

 part, destroying turnips, clover, corn, and beans with im})unity. 

 Tiie strict preservation of game, and its usual concomitant, the 

 destruction of magpies, hawks, and the like, have been the means 

 of increasing the number of woud-pigeons considerably of late 

 years. 



in this neighbourhood, a ridge of strong clay extends from 

 east to west fur a considerable distance. The farms situati'd 

 upon it are mostly owned by the Earl of Hopetoun, and the 

 occupiers, having lived long uj^on their several holdings, are not 

 lieavily rented. Erom 80s. for tlie worst, to 42s. ])er acre for the 

 best, are abuut tlie usual rates. At Gateside, ^Ir AVilliam Pobert- 

 son farms 282 acres, the soil being stiff and suitable for beans. 



