158 On Inirodu^icn of Barley Mills wto Scotland. April 



Perhaps, Lord Karnes's Gentleman Fanner was the firlt 

 publication of the kind which proved really beneficial ta 

 the Scotifh farmer ; as opinions are therein conftantly 

 fabjei^ed to the tcfl of rational principles. His Lordfliip 

 followed the plan laid down by that prince of philofo- 

 phers, Lord Bacon ; and formed his thebry from fa£l:s j 

 which is dire(2:ly the reverfe of the ancient, or Ariftote- 

 lian fyftem. If every landed gentleman in Scotland pof- 

 fefled his Lordfhip's knowledge, and every farmer was as 

 attentive to praftice, then might we expeft, that improve- 

 ments in rural fcience would advance with rapid flrides i 

 imd that, in procefs of time, every part of the country 

 would be cultivated like a garden, without a fingle fpot 

 being left in a wafte or unproductive flate. I am, 



Yours, &c. 

 A Friend to Improvements. 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE FARMEr's MAGAZINE. 



Papers concerning the IntroduBion of Barky Mills int^^ 



Scotland, 



Gentlemen, 



The following curious and interefting papers were 

 lately communicated to me by Mr Andrew Meiklc, the 

 ingenious mechanic who invented the thrafhing machine, 

 now in common ufe ; and, as they afFord authentic in- 

 formation refpe£ting the introdu£lion of the barley mill 

 into Scotland, I truil you will confider them as worthy 

 of being handed down to poilerity through the channel 

 of your Magazine. IMr Meikle vi the only furviving foil 

 of James IMeikle, who went to Holland in ryio, agree- 

 able to the articles of agreement entered into with Mr 

 Fletcher ; and he authorifes me to fay, that liis father, 

 along with the materials for the barley mill, brought 

 over a -winnowing machine, or what is commonly called 

 a pair of fanners 5 which identical machine, oi*, at lead, 

 a part of it, remained at Salton barley mill a few years 

 ago, and probably is ufed at this date. It is only necef* 

 Ciry to add, that Andrew Fletcher, Efq., flyled in the 



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