1803. Agricultural Intelligence, Jfoi. 



templated with concern the dej^lorable ftate of hu(bandry, and ex- 

 erted their endeavours to remove the obftacles which Hood in the 

 vray of an inriproved pradilice. Fletcher of Sidton paved the way ; 

 Cockhurn of Ormijlon, and Hope of Ranheillor, immediately fol- 

 lowed ; and Lord Findlater and Lord Kawies, with the true fpirit 

 of patriots, finiihed the edifice which thefe worthies had fo nobly 

 founded. At the beginning of the century, ftiort leafes were 

 granted, rent was generally paid in kind, which is always a fure 

 proof that the tenantry are opprefifed ; improvements were hardly 

 known. The fyflem of infield and outfield prevailed in its full 

 extent. Sown grafi'es were not ufed. In a word, the proprietors 

 received little rent ; the tenantry were poor and mifeiable ; the 

 country, except in a few inilances, was little better than a barren 

 wafte ; and bankruptcies among rural pradlitioners were then as 

 frequent as is now to be found among the trading and manufactu- 

 ring interefts. 



To improve the country under thefe circumftances muft, it is 

 obvious, have been an arduous talk ; but the means devifed, though 

 (low in accomplilhing the wiihed-for effeci., yet, being founded in 

 wifdom, have now fully produced the expected benefits. Long 

 leafes were offered to fuch as would accept them, (for, ilrange to 

 tell ! fo ignorant were the tenantry, that they even queilioned the 

 advantage of fuch tenures;, moderate rents were demanded, and 

 every kind of haraffing reflrltlion was given up. Under this li- 

 beral fyftem, the face of the country gradually changed for the 

 better. Improvements of every kind, nov/ vv'hen fecurity was 

 granted for reaping the fruits, were cheerfully undertaken by the 

 tenantry. This threw capital into their hands, and ilimulated ad- 

 ditional exertions. Others gradually adopted a fimilar fyllem ; 

 and, before the end of the century, almoil the whole of the low- 

 lands of Scotland might be confide red as more highly cultivated 

 than any other country with which we are acquainted 



It muft be remarked, that the legal polity of Scotland is highly- 

 favourable to the cultivators of the foil. By a regulation made 

 in 1629, tithes were in fad annihilated, at leafl fo far as concerns 

 the tenantry, while the burden of fupporting the poor is fcarceljr 

 felt, not amounting to a halfpenny in the pound of real rent. A. 

 judicious law, refpecting the divifion of wafte and common land, 

 was alfo enaded in i.695 ; and other laws had been previouily 

 paffed by the Legiflature for ftraighting marches, and afcertainlng 

 the mode of enclofing betwixt conterminous proprietors. If a 

 lingle caufe of complaint remains, it is occafioned by the reftric- 

 tion Iliil enforced againfi fubfetting land. It is evident that the 

 retention of this feudal remnant does not promote the intereft ot 

 proprietors in the mod diflant degree, while it operates, in many 



VOL. IV. NO. xiir, N cafes, 



