37 8 OP STRAW, ITS VALUE, AND USES. 



much improved in quality, that such a mixture is no long- 

 er required, and the bread of Perth in particular, where 

 those wheats are alone used, equals any in the united king- 

 dom. 



SECT. X. On Straw, its Value, and Uses. 



THIS is a subject that has not hitherto been so much 

 attended to as its importance deserves.* Though many 

 useful observations on straw, are occasionally introduced 

 in agricultural writings, and though its value, as the basis 

 of future crops, is fully admitted by every intelligent farm- 

 er, yet I do not recollect to have seen the subject profess- 

 edly treated of at any length ; I hope, therefore, that it 

 may be of some use to allot a section of this work for its 

 discussion. It would require a whole chapter to go through 

 the subject fully, but I shall endeavour, in this section, to 

 compress the most important particulars connected with 

 it, under the following heads: 1. The weight of straw 

 produced on an average of the different crops of grain 



On this head it has been well observed by an intelligent agricultu- 

 rist, the Rev. Dr Skene Keith, that whilst the value of corn is universally 

 acknowledged, and duly appreciated, that of straw has either been to- 

 tally disregarded, or but little attended to by many. It was a maxim of 

 Sir William Trumbull's, secretary to King William the Third, " Take 

 care of the pence, for the pounds will take care of themselves." In like 

 manner, he says, it may be recommended to every farmer, even in the 

 most fertile districts, to " Take care of the straw" for, from the increasing 

 population of the country, and the increasing value of that production, 

 *' The corn will take care of itself." 



