2 id Review of the Agricultural SuvUey Aug; 



BRANCH II. 



REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL PUBLICATIONS. 



General Fieiu of the Agriculture of the CouTJties of Roxburgh and 

 Selhirky ivith Obfervaticns en the Means of their Improvement. 

 Drawn up, for the confaleration of the Board of Agriculture, by 

 Robert Douglas, D.D. Mlnifler of Galafnels. ^vo, l']^ pp* 

 Publfjed 179«. 



We lament that this intcrcftlng work has fo long efcaped our 

 notice-, as, from the Reverend author's well known accuracy, 

 and talent for "^xteij five, minute, and difcriminating inveftigation, 

 we might well have expcdled much ufcful information from the 

 refnit of his labours. Thofe who, like us, indulged fuch ex- 

 petlations, will not be difappointed. Indeed, we are extremely- 

 happy to find, that the bufinefs of reporting the ftate of fo im- 

 portant a Scots county was committed to his management : For 

 though, in confequence of the greater proportion of improveable 

 and improved foil which Berwickihire contains, that county is 

 by fome people confidered as the pattern county of Scotland ; 

 yet, there is every reafon to believe, that, in the introduction 

 und the general adoption of improved hujljandry, the county of 

 Roxburgh had taken the lead, of which the following is an in- 

 ftance. 



In page gcth, we are informed, that, though fifty years ago, 

 attempts were made to raife turnips, the cultivation of that root 

 was relinquiflied, from the ignorance of both mafters and fer- 

 vants as to the proper mode of managing it, and the impoflibility 

 of preferving from depredation, a production then fo rare and 

 curious ; and that the practice was not refumed, till again in- 

 troduced, in full perfection of management, about the year 

 ^755» ^y ^'^'^ ^^'Iham Dawfon, upon his return from England, 

 where he had reiided feveral years, for the purpofe of agricul- 

 tural inftruCtion. The farm at that time in his pofiefnon, not 

 being of a foil favourable to this crop, he fufpended for a while 

 his operations. About the year 1759, he entered into poflef- 

 fion of the farm of Frogden, of a foil more propitious j when 

 he immediately refumed the cultivation of turnip, with fuch 

 fpirlt, as to have from 80 to 100 acres annually under this crop. 

 The celerity with which his cattle fattened, with the large com- 

 mand 



