OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 259 



1. Wheat. The growth of wheat has greatly increased in 

 Scotland. It is not only more frequently introduced into 

 rotations, but it is also cultivated in many districts where it 

 was formerly unknown ; and in situations, where, from their 

 elevation, it was formerly thought impossible to raise it. In 

 the parish of Temple in Mid- Lothian, for instance, it has al- 

 ready been grown, from 500 to 600 feet above the level of 

 the sea, and some are trying it, and it is said with success, 

 even in higher situations.* 



There is nothing that seems more likely to promote the 

 successful culture of wheat in Scotland, in districts where 

 the soil is cold, or the climate unfavourable, than to sow it 

 early in autumn. In a farm, which a tenant had declared, 

 would not carry wheat, that he had tried it often, without 

 success, a new possessor resolved to sow it on the 12th of 

 August, and he had the satisfaction of cutting down his 

 crop, on the 10th of August in the following year, and it 

 would have been cut earlier, had the weather permitted. 

 As it was, there was no farmer in Scotland, and few farm- 

 ers in the northern counties of England, who had such a 

 quantity, as 300 bolls of wheat, cut down so early. It pro- 

 ved of uncommon good quality, and sold at a high price, 

 for seed.f 



In regard to the more fertile districts of Scotland, the ge- 

 neral opinion of Scotch farmers is, against sowing wheat so 

 early as the month of August. By one of them, who has 

 sown wheat to a great extent for thirty years, I am inform- 

 ed, that he has tried every period of the year, from the mid- 

 dle of August, to the middle of March ; and by the result 

 he is firmly convinced, that the latter end of September is 



* Communication from Mr George Farme of Braidwood, near DaV 

 keith. 

 f Communication from Mr Allan regarding his farm of Oldh'itofl. 



