On Agricultural Liipj'&uements in Roxburgfu 161 



One great inconvenience attended this improvement ; 

 the middles of the old ridges were now so completely 

 deprived of vegetable mould, that nothing would grow 

 upon them without being manured, and after all, it 

 was generally three years before the field could be 

 brought to bear so uniformly, but that one could see 

 at any reasonable distance the form of the old ridges, 

 while the crop was growing. This, by industry and 

 perseverance, was at last overcome, and such is the 

 force of example, that the prejudices of the old farmers 

 were at last subdued, and the whole country was final- 

 ly drawn into the spirit of improvement. 



But this leveling system made it absolutely necessa- 

 ry to have manure of some kind ; lime could not be 

 had in Roxburgh county, except what was brought at 

 least 30 miles, in any direction ; and turnpike roads 

 and carting had but lately been introduced to any con- 

 siderable extent ; yet under all these disadvantages, 

 great quantities of lime were used for manure. Marl 

 was likewise used where it could be had, but this 

 could not be carried with advantage, to a distance of 

 more than two or three miles from the spot where it 

 was found. But even where lime and marl were botli 

 employed, the improvement was not considered com- 

 plete without the addition of dung, and this could not 

 be made upon the farm while the old system of farm- 

 ing prevailed ; to remedy this inconvenience the arti- 

 ficial grasses were introduced with great advantage. 

 The abundance of excellent upland hay they made, 

 enabled the farmers to keep a more numerous stock, 

 and the straw upon which their half starved cattle and 

 horses were wont to be fed in winter, could now be 



VOL. III. X 



