I goo. of Paring the Surf ace^ in the Highlands. 411- 



cafes, where fuch inclofures are making, and where many 

 people are employed in paring the furface, immenfe quantities 

 of ftones are left in the field ; the removal of which would 

 anfwer the double purpofe, of forming a lafling and ufeful 

 fence, and clear the land of a nuifance, which, in all cafes, 

 ought to precede, any attempt to bring it under the plough. 

 Another pradlice remains to be noticed ; that of paring their 

 beft paftures, and mixing the turf with their dung, to make 

 what is called feal-muck. The numerous heaps of earth form- 

 ed by decayed cottages and fences, have already been noticed ; 

 indeed, there is fcarce a farm where fome of them are not to 

 be met with : the valuable qualities of turf and clay, after 

 having been ufed for fuch purpofes, have alfo been noticed : 

 common fenfe, it might be fuppofed, would naturally point 

 out earth of that kind as preferable to frefli fod ; yet, ftrange 

 to tell, in place of being applied to a purpofe for which it is 

 fo well adapted, it is left in a negleded ftate, and an addi- 

 tional proportion of land deprived of its furface, to anfwerthe 

 fame end. 



This being in fome degree a new fubjed, the ftridures up- 

 on the practice will no doubt be unfavourably received by the 

 tenants and cottagers in the diftrids where it is followed. 

 Men, wedded to particular cuftoms, are with difficulty brought 

 to think, that they and their anceftors have fo long followed 

 •a practice at once hurtful to the country and themfelves : in 

 this, as in many other inftances, the united powers of habit 

 and education form an obftacle too powerful for reafon to re- 

 move, and which is proof even againft the mofl convincing ex- 

 periments. Thefe obfervations, however, are not addrefTed to 

 minds of that defcription : upon the enlightened proprietors in 

 the North, they will have all the efFe£t that could be wifhed : 

 and, though they may not, with all their knowledge, be able 

 to reafon their tenants out of their prejudices, they have it fully 

 in their power to alter their pradice ; which, it is hoped, 

 they will be able to do at no diftant period. 



A. Z, 



VOL. I. NO. IV. M m Fig, 



