5 So?}. Mn;inolrs of John Cochhurti, Ufq. I.33 



improved. Enclofing by ditch and hcd^^e, with trees on the 

 b<^nk, was iDflantly let about ; and, that tliofc encloiurts wcie 

 the firfl: attcmpttd \\\ Scotianu by a ttnant, is fupp^rted by all 

 tradi'.ionary authority, -^uch wcirks wtre tl^n of a novel nature, 

 TiXxA could not fail to make lading impreliiou on the miiuls of the 

 n(.'i;:]jhb(>urs. 



In 1698, the Lord Jufiicc Clerk jjranted to Robert Wight, 

 eldeft fon of Alexander Wight, one of his tenants in Ormjlt -n^, 

 a leafe of the farm called Muuboufe, now JMurrays, to endure 

 for II years. The n.mie of this farm is defcriptive of the foil 

 and the ilate of the laud at the time. It was the firll on the 

 ellate that v/as enclofed ; and Robert Wight was the firil farmer, 

 if tradition fpeaks truth, who enclofcd by ditch and hed^'C, and 

 planted hedge-row trees in ScotJand on his own proper ciiarge. 

 Again, in 1713, Lord JuiUce Clerk granted to the faid Robert 

 Wight a leafe for 9 years of the farm adiacent to the Mur- 

 rays, called the Houfe of Muir. Such was the timidity of thofe 

 days, that few farmers could be prevailed upon to accept of 

 leafes of longer endurance than 5 years. 



John Cockburn Efq., about this time, may be faid to liave 

 entered upon liis agricultural career. During his father's life- 

 time, he promoted improvements, and encouraged the tenantry 

 upon the ellate both by precept and example. As Robert Wight 

 had fhewn an -early and uncommon fpirit to enter into his views, 

 he, in 1718, four years alter his fuccefTion, granted a new leafe 

 of the Murrays farm to him for 38 years, at a rent of 750 

 pounds Scotiih money; and upon paying 1200 pounds Scotifh, 

 in nanie of fine or grafTum, at the expiration of that term, a 

 renewal thereof for other 19 years, and fo 0:1 from 19 to 19 

 years in all time coming. The two fubfcribing witneiTcs to this 

 deed were Sir John Inglis of Cramond Bart, and John Hepburn 

 Efq. of Humbie, and they were invited on this occafion by Mr 

 Cockburn, in order that, from his example, they might be 

 animated with the like liberal and patriotic principles for en- 

 couraging the improvement of agriculture upon their refpe£five 

 properties. 



Alexander Wight, eldeft fon of Robert above named, poflefTed 

 the lioufe of Muir farm during the 9 years leafe, and afterwards 

 held it by tacit relocation till 1725, when, agreeable to the plan 

 for promoting r^al and fubftantial improvements, a new leafe 

 was granted to him for 38 years and three lives therein named. 

 This tenant having entered heartily into all Mr Cockburn's 

 meafures for improving the ellate, as will appear from a letter 

 to be afterwards given, with many others now in our pofTeiTior?, 



I 3 he. 



