1803. Accourii of the itistrici of Lammermuivj \§c: ^cTt 



FOR THE farmer's MAGAZINE. 



Account of the dijlrict of Lam/?ier?nuir\ in Eajl Lothian, draivnt 

 up in l']()^yfro?H the communications of several Farmers.'^ 



The southern part of East Lothian is hilly and mountain- 

 ous, and usually called Lamniermuir. This di.-^trlcr, on tht 

 cast, ccnimeiiccj a lit!:le to the westward of Old Hamstocks, 

 and runs from east to west,^ almost the whole length of the 

 count)-, part of it even stretching into the County of Mid- 

 Lothian. It may be about 18 miles in lenoth, end from twij 

 to eight miles in breadth. 



Tlie general soil is muir or moss^ mixed with ear'u), la 

 various proportions. Upon the top of Lammcrla.\v, iiopes- 

 hill, ^Mayshiel, and other high grounds, the soil is almost in- 

 tirely mess; and where it proJorninateSy few plants except 

 heath are to be found. In lower situations, where there is 

 a greater proportion of earth, grasses of various kinds make 

 their appearance ; but the moss has hitherto baflled all thc 

 atterapts of the husbandman. In soils where it prevails, even 

 after a complete dressing of Lime and Dung, t\\Q most flat- 

 tering appearances have ended in an abortion. Sanguine ex- 

 pectations of improvement are,, however^ entertained at this 

 time from Philosophy and Chemfstryy generously advancing 

 to the ard of the husbandman j and it is to be hoped, that this 

 soil, whicli has been hitherto considered as perfectly un- 

 improveable, may, now from the assistance of such powerful 

 auxiliaries, be rendered valuable to its proprietors. 



The climate of the district, from height of situation, is 

 backward and cold. In winter, the whole face of the country 

 is covered w^ith snow, which, in some' seasons, wdll continue 

 for two or three months. The farmers are then obliged to 

 feed their sheep, to prevent them from starving j and often 

 te remove them to the lower parts of Lothian and Berwick- 

 shire. In the spring and summer months, a great deal more 

 rain falls there than in other parts of the county. High winds are 

 also frequent, or rather, from the face of the country, are at- 

 tended with dangerous consequences. Under all these cir- 

 cumstances, it need hardly be observed, that the Lammer- 

 muir Farmer struggles with numerous diiliv.ulties, and that his 

 situation is extremely hazardous. 



The property of this district is divided amongst eighteen 

 heritors, none of whom reside within its bounds. The size 

 lof farms is much the same as they have been for a century- 

 past ; 



* This paper was originally intended for the Last Lothian agri- 

 cultural survey, but for reasons unnecesiifN to be mentioned, was 



