2 Ri^tropeitive Vic'iv cf Agrlculturs— 'Caithness. Feh, 



of depending on foreign nations for any large proportion of our 

 subsistence, at a time when our conmierce must necessariij be 

 consicU-rablj diminished, our Vvcalth would quickly disappear, 

 iiud our diitr?33cs would accumulate to a height whicli might 

 produce the most disastrous consequences. This is a subject 

 wl|^ch, it is to be hoped-, will soon attract the attention of par- 

 liament ; and that some system will be adopted for the purpose 

 (^f furnisiiing the landed and the farming interests, with the 

 means of carrying on the cultivation and improvement of the 

 countrv, if possible uith greater energy than ever, as the best 

 mcd'i of enabling us to prosecute the present war, with addi-- 

 tional spirit and success. 



In addition to the calamities of war, the last season also, was,, 

 on tiie vx/hole, highly unfavourable to agricultural improve- 

 ments. The sprino and the be^inniii^f of summer were cold 

 and ungenial ; and though the months of July and August were 

 dry, and consequently well calculated for the operation of burn- 

 ing, yet from the want of rain at that critical period of the sea- 

 son, the crop of this year has but little straw, and though the 

 quality of the grain is wholesome, yet it is hardly equal in quan- ^ 

 tity to the average produce of Caithness. This is the more to 

 be lamented, as the preceding crop turned out a- worse one than. 

 any remembered in that county for some years. 



I. ImprouuTients of Wastes . 



Th.is most importQiit object v/as carried on to a considerable- 

 extent, during the year 1003 ; preparations having been 

 made for that purpose, previous to the war breaking out.- 

 The dryness of the summer was favourable to burning, a spe- 

 cies of improvemicnt of important consideration. On the wliole, 

 in the course of the last season, probabl}'- aho'vc a thousand- 

 acres might be put in a progressive state of cultivation^ of. 

 v/hich about 430 were in the hands of one proprietor. 



The best system ^f improving commons, that have a good 

 depth of soil, with a rougli surface, and that is capable of 

 being burnt, is ilms^ pretty v.-ell ascert?ined, in so far as re- 

 gards this northern district. The land should be ploughed in 

 the whiter months, cros^ ploughed in spring (that the clods may 

 not be crumbled to pieces hj the winter frosts), and burnt 

 in summer ; the aslies then spread, and ploughed in ; and 

 early next year, afcer being well harrowed, sliould be sown 

 with oits a;:d gras^-secds. In a better climate, the burning 

 may t:d:e place earlier, and oars or bear may be f own the first 

 year ; and where sheep are abundant, a crop of turnips may 

 be taken , but, on the whole, the plan above mentioned," is 

 the best that has hitherto been attempted in Uiis district, and 



though 



