OF ROADS. 



SECT. VI. Of the Roads on a Farm) and in its 

 Neighbourhood. 



THE advantages resulting from good roads need not be 

 dwelt upon, as no country can be improved without these 

 essential aids to cultivation. In various instances, the 

 foundation of the improvement of several districts in Scot- 

 land has been justly attributed to them. For instance, in 

 that fertile tract of country, the Carse of Gowrie, prior to 

 the year 1790, there was no road, that could admit of cart- 

 ing through the winter or spring months ; every thing was 

 to be carried to market on horseback, and the horses often 

 sunk to their bellies. So great was the slavery of thresh- 

 ing the grain, and carrying it to market along such roads, 

 that many men, possessed of an active spirit, quitted the 

 farming line, or went to places better situated in regard to 

 roads. But now, the turnpike-roads in that district, are as 

 good as any in the kingdom, and by the judicious applica- 

 tion of the statute service-money, the greater part of the 

 farmers have been enabled to make good private roads to 

 their own doors, by means of which, 32 cwt. of coal may 

 be carried upon a two-horse cart, from the harbours ; and 

 150 to 200 stone of hay, tron weight, or from one and a 

 half, to two loads English weight, is carried by each two- 

 horse cart, to the towns of Perth and Dundee. By these 

 means, the expence of conveyance has been materially di- 



hoped, that this measure will be taken up by the Highland Society of 

 Scotland, or the Board of Agriculture. 



