54^ Retrospective view of Hushandry--^ Ayr shire. 



futed by positive facts, calcareous manuie has been latterly applied- 

 very extensively. Indeed lime may safely be consideved as tlie basis of 

 East Lothian husbandry, rarely neglecting to operate, provided a full 

 dose has been bestowed. 



It is in contemplation to introduce a ne\v road bill for this county in- 

 to the present session of parliament, though the act passed in 1793, ^^ 

 not half expired. Various reasons are assigned for this premature step, 

 but it is believed the true one is, to get the sanction of parliament for 

 granting a considerable sum out of the funds of this county, in aid of the 

 wtvi bridge atMusselburgh in the conterminous county. It \\ as originally 

 intended to draw pontage there, but, in consequence of this ,iijrant, none 

 will be levied. Travellers, to be sure, must admire the generosity of 

 this county in subjecting itself to a heavy expence, in order that they" 

 may pass free, for the breadth and length of the measure is nothing 

 more than that the good people of East Lothian are to pay pontage 

 for all those who travel from the most distant parts of the island to 

 the Scotch metropolis. It is also proposed to place a number of the 

 bye roads under the turnpike system ^ a measure probably very ne- 

 cessary, though it must excite surprise that the most public cross road 

 in the county, a road leading from one royal burgh to another, and 

 presently in a bad state of repair, is not included. 



A very complete thrashing machine of extensive powers, to be 

 worked by wa>:er, has lately been erected upon the farm of Beil 

 Grange, in the natural possession of Mr Hamilton Nisbet of Dirle- 

 ton and Beil. We rejoice when gentlemen of aiHuent fortunes dis- 

 play attention to such matters, and can safely declare, that Mr N. 

 carries on every branch of his numerous rural undertakings \vith vi- 

 gour and iudgment. Gentlemen of landed property ought either 

 to farm well, or they ought not to farm at all. 



j^yrshlre. 



Taking crop 1803 throughout the whole county, I believe It may 

 be termed a good one, that is, a crop ccjual to an average of years taken 

 together. Since the beginning of June wc have had one of the finest 

 seasons ever remembered •, dry weather in abundance, ^vith such alter- 

 nate rains as were perfectly sufficient for promoting and keeping up 

 vegetation, by which means the grain Avas completely filled and ri- 

 pened ; and if sloth or carelessness did not hitervene, it was next to 

 impossible that it could be lost In harvesting. The extreme cold and 

 ynfiavourable v.-eather in April, and the whole of May, chilling the 

 seed and*youn^ rising plants, rendered the crop thinner than usual j 

 but the superior quality will probably supply that deficiency. In 

 some grounds where the cold, frost, sleet, and hail did not entirely 

 kill the plants, they retarded their growth till the more favourable 

 f^-eather In June succeeded. Hence an after- groAvth sprung up, which 

 in many places rendered the harvesting very tedious and irregular.- It 

 Ivas no uncommon thing to see several patches of green and half rip^ 

 co;:a stand for tv.o ot three v;cek5 ia the same field, after that the o- 



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