c6 On t%e Propagation of Perennial Rye-Graj}. Aug. 



In this (late ot improved hufbandry, ccnfined folely to the 

 croft larid fubje6ted to continued tillage, and where improved 

 p:){lure conftituted a part of the rotation, it is evident, that a 

 pere-zinialy or Jlanding ryc-grafs, was a matter of no moment to 

 the farmer. 



Frv m voluntary imitation of MrM'Dougal in Linton's pra6lice, 

 in Tu'eeddale ; and, in Clydefdale Upper Ward, from the com- 

 pulfatory regulations introduced into the leafes upon the Carn- 

 •wnth eftate by Mr Low (who, by the way, enjoys the equal con- 

 fidence of landholder and tenant in that diilri6l, as much as he 

 docs through the Lothians and Berwickfliire), the improved huf- 

 bandry was extended to the outfields ; and that, either by 

 merely croping the outfields with a little more mercy, and lay- 

 ing them down agaiii for pafture in bettor heart, while the croftA 

 continued in conftant rotation tillage without intervention of 

 pafture, as already ftatcd ; or (as was in fuitable farms enforced 

 by ^^r Low*s reguL:ttions) by introducing a rotation fyftem, in- 

 cluding intervals of palture over the whole farm in common 

 with the crofts ; fo that the whole (liould be fubjeded to alter- 

 nate ]:u{bandry of tillage and of pafture. 



This change of fyftem, including everywhere Improved paftarc, 

 laifed a demand for perennial rye-grafs— rye-grafs being found 

 the earlieft fpring food. Ur.fortunatcly, however, (from having 

 been in no requeft in the firft flage of improved huihandry, where 

 nothing had been required from it but a fingle hay crop), no at- 

 tention had been paia to it \ and the atinual rye-grafs (much more 

 proper for a hay crop, as being a plant of more luxuriant gron th) 

 Iiaa entirely ufurped its place; and a perennial rye- grafs came to 

 be a defideratum in the extenfion of the improved fyftem. 



Knowmg that the firft deper.dence for perennial rye-grais, in 

 Tweeddale, was upon Carnwath, I took the opportunity, when 

 in that quarter a few days fince, to make inquiry as to the mode 

 by which that diftri6l had got poffjffion of it ; and the follow- 

 in^ is the refult of my inquiry, upon the authenticity of which 

 I can fully depend, from the intelligence and integrity of my in- 

 formants. 



About fifteen years ago, n Clydefdale man, a Mr Wliite, fet- 

 tled as a merchant in tlie village of Carnwath, after having fpenC 

 rtioft of his lifetimie in the agricultural line in various counties 

 of England : he is fpoken of as having fliown liimfelf pofteffed 

 of great intelligence in farming. Thirteen years ago, upon a 

 vifit to Mr John French farmer of Lamipits, near the village of 

 Carnwath, Mr White difcovercd, and pointed out to hifti, a 

 frjiall patch of perennid rye-grafs in a negleftcd fpot of his gar- 

 den. It was recolledted that this faid garden had been laid out 



