1:804 • Retrospective P^iew of Agriculture— -Tivee dale. 13 



iiization, and it will not be difficult to decide which is entitled 

 to a preferment *. 



FOR THE FAR1\IER's MAGAZINE. 



Short Retrospective Notices of ^Agriculture in Tweedale. 



Besides those permanent improvements of extensive outlay, 

 and of distant return, (generally considered as exclusively be- 

 longing to the department of perpetual landed proprietors) 

 which Mr Findlater has specified in his survey of our country, 

 as performed at their own expence, by tenants upon the estate 

 of Neidpath, upon the security of leases of 57 years ; whose 

 length of endurance secures to their possessor an absolute right 

 of free transmission, and alienation, so encouraging to the fix- 

 ing of his own capital in the soil, and so favourable to the pro- 

 ving of credit for other capitals to be launched out in the same 

 entcrprize. Besides the improvements of this description, so 

 executed, in building, planting, and stone dyke enclosure, im- 

 provements, of mere surface culture, have been going on in 

 pretty rapid progression, upon the security of leases of the 

 ordinary endurance of 19, 20, and 25 years. 



In the latter description of improvements, probably the pa- 

 rish of Eddlestone, of whose Farmers Club you have made ho- 

 nourable mention in your last, may be considered as being a- 

 mong the foremost ; and that, in consideration, not only of the 

 itfii'-jerscdity (with trifling exceptions) of the adoption of the 

 improved husbandry in every farm, but also, as to the extent- 

 sion given to it, in several particular forms. Not onlj- are the 

 croft lands (or those destined for continued tillage) reduced to 

 such regular rotation, that, at a glance over the fields, you 

 can pronounce what had been the former crop upon each, and 

 what will be the next succeeding one : but, in various instan- 

 ces, theliand of culture has been extended to the hills of leav- 

 er elevation ; destined for perpetual pasture, as unfit, from po- 

 verty of soil, to make any adequate return for the expence of 

 continued tillage. These (in their natural state, cov^ere.d with 

 a coat of short stubby heath, and almost of no value whatsoe- 

 ver) have been fallowed, limed, and (where compost and dung 

 was attainable) sown in turnips, which were eaten upon the 



ground. 



* If the Crown woulcl give up Its share of the common, (from which 

 at prefeiit it derives no benefit) a compar.y might probably be creeled 

 to carry fo ufeful a plan into execution, ^i lU own risk and expence. 



