Transactions. 65 



herrings, and sometimes raw onions after the kail. Yet they 

 were contented and pleased with their lot. An old man, who 

 at the age of 95 was " lively and active," was asked by Ramsay 

 in 1782 whether the old or the present times were the best. He 

 answered — " There were difficulties then, there are difficulties 

 now, and there will be difficulties to the end of the world." 

 Venerable sage ! The first important agricultural improvement 

 was the general application of lime to the land. Then came 

 enclosure, and the introduction of the English methods. Wages 

 were low. In 1756 a labourer's wage was 6d a day in summer. 

 Tailors had 2d or 2^d a day, with victuals. They afterwards 

 rose slowly to 4d, where they remained for a number of 

 years. The money remitted to pay the troojis at the last 

 rebellion, and afterwards to purchase the hereditary jurisdictions, 

 gave new life to industry and enterprise, and to a liberal 

 intercourse between the two kingdoms. Scotsmen leturned from 

 the East Indies with moderate wealth, the trade of Glasgow 

 flourished apace, and everything was prospering. Road-making 

 was carried forward on a great scale, partly by Government, and 

 partly by statute labour. A cart with proper wheels was, about 

 1730, a curiosity. With free intercourse with England, the cattle 

 trade was greatly extended. The enclosing of pasture laud was 

 another improvement which encountered special opposition from 

 the country people. Turnip husbandry was introduced from 

 England about the middle of the century. About 1760 barn 

 fanners were introduced. In ancient times every mill had a 

 shieling hill, where the winnowing was performed in the open air. 

 It is said the Antiburgher ministers testified against barn fanners 

 as a creating of wind and distrusting of Providence. But there 

 was too much self-interest on the other side, says Ramsay, and 

 this theory made little impression on the farmers. About 1746 

 the Irish method of cultivating potatoes in the open field was 

 pursued with great success in the neighbourhood of Kilsyth. 

 Theace it spread by degrees all over the country. The thriving 

 state of manufactures at this time gave farmers a market for their 

 wool, and, indeed, for everything produced on their farms. Nor 

 must the benefits of the banking system be overlooked. 



The Legislative Union produced a great change in the literary 

 tastes of Scotsmen. From peer to peasant, then and long after- 

 wards, the Scottish Doric was the only dialect in use. Between 



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