l8oo. The Rtiral Inquirer. I25 



neceflity of Summer fallow, which, u;ider tlie prefent 

 rate of rents, and value of labour, is an cxpenfive affair 

 to the farmer, is confequently much leli'ened ; for, if 

 land is once thoroughly cleaned, and afterwards kept in 

 a regular g^ourfe of leguminous and culrniferous crops, 

 alternately, it will remain in good order for a confiderable 

 number of years. 



The Potato^ which, during the 17th century, was 

 confidered as an article of garden growth, has, for fifty 

 years back, been extenfively cultivated in the fields; and 

 is now the chief crop employed, in the vicinity of great. 

 towns, for cleaning the ground. Though this root 

 forms a principal part of the food of the lower ranks, 

 and confequently deferves every mark of attention, yet 

 the raifmg of it, in an agricultural point of view, can- 

 not be confidered as equally beneficial to the farmer with 

 turnips and beans. It is only upon light foils that they 

 can be cultivated with propriety ; and, in fucli fituations, 

 the land is better cleaned by turnips, whic*i are fown at 

 a later period of the feafon. In fadl, this efculent root 

 can never enter into a regular rotation, as the demand is 

 limited; but every farmer cultivates lefs or more, for the 

 ufe of his family and fervants. 



Inclofing and Draining of land have alfo been of much 

 advantage in facilitating improvements ; and the advan- 

 tages of both are evident to the moft fuperficial obferver. 

 If a farm is not inclofed, the farmer can hardly be 

 confidered, in many cafes, as being mafter of his pof- 

 feffion ; and, without the operation of draining, the full 

 advantages of good ploughing and manuring cannot be 

 attained. 



In the progrefs of thefe important improvements, 

 much afliflaifte has been gained from the liberal fyfleni 

 of connexion which has long fubfifted betwixt the great 

 majority of landed proprietors and the tenantry ; which 

 has contributed not only to promote the foiid improve- 

 ment of the country, but has alfo been attended with 

 beneficial efFc£ls to tJiofe immediately intcrefted. 1-ong 

 leafes, free from arbitrary reltriclive covenants, have 

 formed a proirdnent feature in this liberal fyflem ; 

 without which encouragement, notwithftanding of every 

 other advantage, the hufbandrv of Scotland would not, 



Q.3 ' at 



