l8oo. Of the Agriculture of the Counfy of Perth. 197 



ing, and the rotation of crops, could not have been more 

 judicioufly explained by the moiil diftinguiflied agricultur- 

 ift. The information communicated refpecling the dif- 

 ferent procelTcs of rural economy, from the ploughing 

 of tlie ground, to the reaping and ingathering of the 

 crop, are more amply detailed than in any other furvey 

 that has come under our confideration. This chapter 

 may be read with pleafure by the beft, and with profit 

 bv the unexperienced huPoandman. 



In the feclion concerning hay harvcf}^ it is faid, p. 218, 

 that, in 1786, Mr Paterfoa of Caftle-Huntly " had 

 6000 Hones of hay from a field of 13 acres, " or nearly 

 450 ftones per acre, which is 130 ftones more than the 

 greatefl: crop ever known in our pratlice. We remem- 

 ber of a certain perfon, who once vaunted that his hay 

 crop turned out 500 ftones per acre ; *' Pray, " faid a 

 fhrewd fagacious neighbour, " did you meafure the 

 *' ground ? " *' No, I only computed it." " Did you 

 " weigh the hay ? " ** No, I counted the cart loads, 

 ** and eftimated the produce." So much for a great 

 crop of hay ! We acknowledge, at the fame time, that 

 we have feen heavier crops of clover-grafs in the Carfe 

 of Gowrie, than in any other diftrl6t of the kingdom ; 

 and are far from calling in queftion the veracity of the 

 account here given. 



The chapter upon Woods at:d Plantations, conflltutes 

 an important department of the work, and deferves the 

 attentive perufal of the landed proprietors, who are 

 chiefly interefted in this branch of rural improvement. 

 Dr R. fays, " there are more oak woods, and of great- 

 *' er value. In Perchfliire, than in ail the reft of Scot- 

 " land :" but it appears, that a great deal of moorifli 

 lands might be aclvantageouily employed in grovving Scots 

 firs and larches, which is corroborated by feveral judi- 

 cious, and apparently accurate calculations. 



The Live Stock of the county Is amply defcribed In 

 the 13th chapter; and we give Dr R. great credit for 

 the judicious remarks which he makes upon this fub- 

 jetSl. We decidedly coincide with him in opinion, that 

 *' fheep are the moft profitable, the moft ufeful, and 

 **' the moft inoffenfive of all the browfing animals ; " 

 and " that, upon any given extent of pafture, their re- 

 *' turns arc nearly onf-third more than tliat of any other 

 " ftock. " V/e obferve a degree of apprehenfion, 

 howsverj that the Hieep fyftsm may bs carried tod 



' far i 



