262 General licsiiUs of a Gardening Tour : — 



withstanding this, we believe they will invariably be found 

 the worst description of dwellings in Scotland. Perhaps it 

 will hardly be credited in a future age, that while Scotch 

 farmers, confessedly the most enlightened agriculturists in the 

 world, are not intrusted with the erection of stables and 

 buildings for lodging cattle, and for the other purposes of the 

 farm-yard, they are yet permitted to erect dwellings for 

 human beings. The farm-yard is usually built from the plan, 

 and at the expense, of the landlord, under the superintendence 

 of his architect and factor; but a sum is generally allowed to 

 the filmier, for the erection of such cottages as he may require 

 for the lodging of his yearly servants ; and these cottages he 

 plans and executes, uncontrolled by any other powers or prin- 

 ciples than those suggested by his own feelings of propriety 

 and justice. That these are often low in the moral scale, 

 there are but too many examples to prove. It is a well 

 known fact, that no Scotch manufacturer ever ventures to 

 erect such cottages for his workmen as a farmer does for his 

 labourers. If he did, he would only have tlie very lowest 

 description of Irish to live in them, as is the case with certain 

 cottages along the west coast ; for example, at Stanraer and 

 Girvan. With the progress of things, we have no doubt that 

 this practice will be done away with ; and that the farmer's 

 yearly servants will, at least, be placed on the same footing 

 as his horses and cattle. It is now the interest of the farmer 

 to lodge his servants as cheaply as possible ; and the interest 

 of the landlord to get as high a rent for his land as he can, 

 with the least outlay of capital for repairs and new erections: 

 but men's views of interest change ; and, with a superior de- 

 gree of human cultivation among all classes, a more refined 

 description of self-interest will require to be gratified. To 

 some landlords, to see and to know that all who live on their 

 estates, and especially the poorest class, who, isolated and 

 ignorant as they now are, cannot help themselves, are com- 

 fortable, and possessed of the means of happiness, is a neces- 

 sary of life. As society advances, this class of landlords will 

 become more numerous, and this is one source I'rom which 

 we look for the amelioration of the lowest description of 

 human habitations in Scotland. 



Another source, however, and the one cm which we chiefly 

 depend, is the growing iiUelligencc and taste of the cottagers 

 themselves. The agricultural population of no part of Britain 

 is yet sulficiendy enlightened to act by cooperation ; but, 

 with a proper system of national education, and the free cir- 

 culation of political and moral knowledge, both of which we 

 hope soon to sec established, the operative agriculturists, 



