50 ORMISTOUN'S LETTERS 



a late Harvest, but late sowing must. The first is only to be 

 helped a little by early sowing, but the last is entirely the 

 farmer's own doing if weather allows of early sowing. Bad 

 damnified Barley of which I fear there will be a great deal 

 may keep down the prices where they don"'t distinguish, but 

 good well got Barley will be worth money. I reckon few will 

 have good Malt in Scotd: as thrift will make them mix heated 

 Barley with good. Send me the prices of all Grain and how 

 Black Cattle sell at Fairs. 



9*h Ocf- 1739. 



XV 



23 Feby. ijf^. Charles, — As the Weather is not likely to allow Ships to 

 Sail, I have and shall continue now to send a few seeds for you 

 to be doing with upon the first thaw, without loss of time, and 

 if I write to J. Dods ^ I shall enclose such another Cargo to him. 

 Arch: Pringle, who has lost his Wife, talks much of his Onion 

 Seed, so I send you a little of it, to give it a fair trial as 

 soon as the weather will allow of it. Weak ground will 

 produce poor Crops of what should be sown earlier than this 

 season is like to allow of. Things that should have been in 

 the ground the beginning of this month will require help to 

 forward them when late sown. I suppose you want Melon 

 Seeds for making presents of, so you shall have to stock the 

 whole Country, but I never saw any for any thing but pickling 

 in Scotld. The old Seed should be kept before sowing. Their 

 not answering in Scotld: does not entirely arise from the 

 climate tho** there is a good deal in that, but I never saw them 

 right managed nor every thing necessary in order, tho' from 

 the greater distance from the Sun they require the more care 

 in place of the much less they have, from our humour of 

 neglecting something necessary towards success in most things 

 we undertake and saying or acting as if we thought it will do 

 well enough for all that. A little Ignorance is an Ingredient 

 in our not having such things much better than we have. 

 Collyflowers and several other things will want dung and 



1 John Dods, * overseer of Mr. Cockburn's country affairs,' on members' list 

 of the club. To him No. XXXII. is addressed. 



