iSoo, The Rural Inquirer. 123 



4:rifiing rci;i. Good land may produce rich crops under 

 many iinpediments, of which the value of borough acre?. 

 is a ftriking proof ; but, upon the obdurate exhaufted 

 out-field, nothing to the purpofe could be accompliflied, 

 without employing the moft a6live exertions. 



It ivS believed, that the above ftatement will apply to 

 the fituation of Scotifli huibandry, till the conclufion of 

 the 17th century; fince which period, a great and tho- 

 rough alteration has taken place. 



The chief and primary means of accomplifhing this 

 alteration, was the introduction oi Summer fallonv, which 

 was not pra6lifed north of the Tweed fooner than the 

 time above mentioned. Without working the ground 

 during tlie dry Summer months, it was impoffible to 

 clear the in- fields of the immenfe (lock of annual and 

 root weeds which had for ages been accumulated, or to 

 reduce the coarfe fterile out-field to a proper tilth for 

 carrying good crops of corn or artificial grafies. This 

 valuable practice, which at all times is abfolutely necef- 

 fary in the firfl; ftage of improvements, has generally 

 been pra£lifed with as much efFedl as in any part of 

 Britain : and, in no country whatfoever, is greater atten- 

 tion beftowed upon the feveral procelTes of ploughing, 

 harrowing, rolling, and gathering grafs roots, than what 

 is ufually bellowed on the working of fallows in the 

 Lowlands of Scotland. 



The Grafs Hiijhandry, which has been afllduoufly 

 pratftifed upon a great fcale fince the middle of the 

 J 8th century, was alfo of material advantage in the im- 

 provement of Scotiih hufbandry ; and, for thirty years 

 back, a greater quantity of feeds have been fown in the 

 Lowland diftriffs, than in any part of England of the 

 fame exterit. The ufual praflice has been, to manage 

 grafs lands according to the Norfolk fafhion, which is 

 found to be more beneficial than withholding the plough 

 for a greater number of years, as is cuflomary in all 

 the m.idland and weilern Engliih counties. The great 

 advantage of artificial grafles, by enriching and refrelh- 

 ing the foil, are well known ; and they are feldom fown 

 in this country, except with the firll crop after Summer 

 fallow, or upon land which has undergone fuitable pre- 

 paration. 



Q^? Turn!j>i 



