58 



(2) Reduced outlay on such works as fencing, draining, &c. 



(3) The use of machinery. 



Mr. McDowall writes : " I may state that on the two farms 

 I hold employment was found for five pairs of horses with their 

 attendants during the seventies, while the ploughing is now 

 done by one pair of horses. The same amount of produce can- 

 not now be turned off the farm, but the outlay is reduced by 

 i400 and there is also a saving in other directions." 



Mr. Biggar states that there has been a tendency to increase 

 the size of farms by adding one farm to another and also a 

 reduction in the number of farmers by letting two or more 

 holdings (not necessarily contiguous) to one farmer. 



LANARK. The decline is attributed to the following 

 causes : 



(1) The great development of mining and other industries 

 in the county during the last twenty-five years, and the occu- 

 pation of land for railways, collieries, and buildings. 



(2) Contact of the agricultural labourers with miners and 

 ironworkers, and the inducements to enter these occupations 

 for the sake of the higher wages and increase of leisure 

 afforded. 



(3) The laying down of land to pasture, as being more profit- 

 able than ordinary cropping. More hay is now grown to supply 

 the needs of the collieries, and there is also a greater demand 

 for milk. 



(4) The improvement of agricultural machinery. 



(5) The combining and letting of two or more farms to one 

 tenant, resulting in an extension of grazing. 



(6) A want of suitable cottages. 



ORKNEY. In Mr. McLeniian's view the chief causes of the 

 decline of the agricultural population during the whole period 

 are : 



(1) The desire on the part of the rising generation for a 

 more remunerative vocation, which the education now received 

 enables them more readily to obtain in the commercial and 

 industrial centres. 



(2) The fall in the price of agricultural produce caused 

 large farmers to employ less labour on their farms, with the 

 result that the smaller farmers' families could not all be main- 

 tained on the produce of these small farms without extra em- 

 ployment. 



Mr. "Watt writes : " I do not think the decline that has 

 taken place, at any rate as yet, materially affects this county, 

 as there seems not much difficulty in filling up ploughmen's 

 places. The wages demanded, however, are high, for this and 

 for all other farm labour, compared to ten or fifteen years 

 ago." 



