COUNTY OF STIRLI^^G. 159 



nearly all the crop is tliraslied. On the south side of the quad- 

 rangle is the cart-shed, over which there is a good granary ; and 

 there are suitable arrangements for accommodating young horses, 

 as well as for the storage of manures, and for other necessary 

 purposes. The stack-yard is on the west side of the steading, 

 and is in two divisions, separated by a wide road — a measure of 

 precaution by which a portion of the crop might be saved in case 

 of fire. The farm-house, built five or six years ago, is very com- 

 modious, with tastefully arranged garden and lawn. In the 

 west of the county less accommodation is required, and the chief 

 interest is centred in a good and well-kept byre ; but the stead- 

 ings generally are compact and well kept. At Blairoer, in Dry- 

 men parish, Mr M'Adam occupies his own estate of 167 imperial 

 acres, all arable except 6 acres of braes. The house is substan- 

 tial, with every appearance of quiet comfort, with graceful and 

 spreading lime trees and a well-sheltered garden, a pattern of 

 neatness. The steading, close at hand, is compact; and the 

 byre, with accommodation for 29 cows, is commodious, well 

 ventilated, well lighted, and a pattern of cleanliness. In the 

 uplands of Fintry parish, on the estate of the Duke of Montrose, 

 where the farms are wholly pastoral, the steadings at Lurg, 

 Spittalhill, and others are remarkably clean and neat, as well as 

 substantially built, and the farm-houses, though of moderate 

 dimensions, are thoroughly comfortable. 



In farm economy thrashing and winnowing machines have 

 long been regarded as essential; but more than two-thirds of the 

 crop, especially wheat and barley, are now prepared for the 

 market by travelling machines. Still, most farm steadings have 

 a thrashing mill, driven by water where that is possible — in 

 other cases by steam or horse power. Mr Simpson, Westmains, 

 Grangemouth, has a thrashing machine with a high-speed drum, 

 driven with six horses, and with this the whole crop has been 

 thrashed during the past twelve years. He finds it useful for 

 giving tlie horses needful exercise at times when work on the 

 land is impracticable. At Gallamuir ]\Ir Edmond has a machine 

 driven by steam, with which nearly all his crop is thrashed ; and 

 steam appears now to be the favourite motive power. 



Land is turned over with the common ])lough, and on some 

 liglit land there is double furrow i)k)ughing. A good deal of 

 work is done with Tennent's two-liorse grubbers, and zigzag 

 iron haiTows are used in the carse to break the clods. Twenty- 

 five years ago Stirlingshire took the lead in beginning steam 

 j)longhing, but after a trial of five or six years it was found not 

 to i)ay tlje company. Some farmers have a feeling against it, 

 and HiJiintain that by going too deep it brought up worthless 

 soil and injured tlie land. Once or twice since tlieu a set of 

 tackle has been tried in the county, but it has always failed to 



