164 Account of the IntrodiiEliotiy ilfe. April 



knowledged fuperlority which that difl:rl£l early attained 

 in the different branches of rural fcience. 



The late Lord Milton, who had the beft opportunity 

 of knowing every circumftance relative to the introduc- 

 tion of fallow, was eager to procure the eredlion of a 

 pillar to the memory of Mr Walker, upon which a full 

 detail of the different particulars was to have been in- 

 fcribed ; but the hurry of public bufinefs, in which that 

 eminent perfonage was conflantly engaged, prevented 

 this laudable propofal from being carried into execu- 

 tion. Sir Francis Kinloch, Bart, who was contempo- 

 rary with Mr Walker, and who refided within half a 

 mile of his farm, alfo earneflly advifed the family, af- 

 ter his deceafe, to record this important matter upon 

 his tombftone. It is, however, unneceffary to dwell 

 upon thefe things, as the different circumftances at- 

 tending this firft attempt to renovate the hufbandry of 

 Scotland, and the fuccefs which accompanied it, are 

 fo well known, as to render further obfervations unne- 

 ceffary. 



Mr Walker was llkewife the firft perfon in Scotland 

 who fowed wheat upon what was then called out-field 

 land, which, previous to the introdu£lion of fallow, 

 could not have been effected with profit. By the gra- 

 dual extenfion of this pradlice, the low lands of Eaft 

 Lothian have, for a confidevable number of years, been 

 kept under a regular courfe of corn crops, which for- 

 merly was only pra£licable upon the in-field or crop 

 grounds. 



In a word, the merit of this eminent and dlftinguifh- 

 ed farmer deferves to be tranfmitted to pofterity with 

 marks of applaufe ; and, if Swift fpeaks truth in his 

 celebrated adage, he conferred greater benefit upon 

 mankind, and performed more effential fervice to his 

 country, than the whole race of politicians put toj-e- 

 ther. 



N. 



Tt 



