No. 9. 



Scotch Farming in the Lothians. 



267 



men of a superior rank, education, and capi- 

 tal, engage in the business of farming, than 

 is the case in England, or indeed, tlia7i ever 

 toill be the case in England, under existing 

 circumstances.* 



The foundation of all improvement in the 

 Scotch farming, is the system of thorough, 

 draining;] and so essential is this consi- 

 dered, that most of the land is deemed un- 

 worthy of being farmed at all, until it has 

 undergone this operation. 



Thorough draining, or furrow draining, is 

 a series of drains, of tiles, or broken stones, 

 made at regular distances, from 15 to 30 

 feet, or more, apart, according to the nature 

 of the soil, over the whole field. This may 

 be called the new system of draining, as 

 opposed to the old one of cutting a ?evj deep 

 drains where springs actually show them- 

 selves, and which mode of draining is now, 

 I believe, entirely abandoned by the best 

 formers. For minute directions on this, and 

 other branches of the subject, I refer to the 

 book of Professor Low, on Scotch Husband- 

 ry, which is considered the best authority. 

 I will merely remark, that it is advisable, 

 in every case, to lay the drains in the old 

 furrows, not across them ; and the drains 

 themselves, should be 16 to 18 inches deep. 

 When made with stones, the top of the 

 drain may be brought nearer the surface 

 than is safe with tiles, and also, when the 

 land is for permanent grass, than when in- 

 tended for arable ; but I believe the tops, 

 even of stone drains, on grass lands, should 

 be at least twelve inches below the surface 

 of the ground, and that tile drains, in arable 

 land, should not approach the surface nearer 

 than 18 or 20 inches. 



The sums spending, at present, in Scot- 

 land, upon thorough draining, are immense. 

 It will be seen, in the following notes of the 

 farms I visited, that one farmer had laid out 

 1,800Z. in thorough draining alone, during 

 the first two years of his lease.| 



I will now put down a few extracts from 



* What good reason can be given, why gentlemen of 

 small landed property, do not cultivate their own es- 

 tates? They would not only be more useful members 

 of the community, but happier, probably, themselves. 

 Instead of applying their own capital, talent, and in- 

 dustry, to the cultivation of their estate, they almost 

 universally let it, and, very probably, to one without 

 either education, or capital; the consequences to them- 

 selves and to the land, are what might be expected. 

 Why cannot a gentleman of £5,000, or of £50,000 capi- 

 tal, succeed as a farmer, as well as a manvfactnrer? 



t Or "furrow-draining," as it is generally called. 



X Let the American farmer ponder on this and the 

 following facts,— £d. 



my notes of the farms I visited, and shall 

 call them by different numbers, that the 

 farms may not be recognised : 



No. 1. Meadow land in small holdings, 

 where the common sewers of the town dis- 

 charge, one or two miles from Edinburgh, 

 the grass constantly cut and taken into 

 town, for cows and horses: rent 151. per 

 acre. 



No. 2. At two miles from town, with 

 ample supply of town manure — potatoes and 

 turnips carried daily into Edinburgh for sale: 

 rent 11. 'per acre. 



No. 3. Farm 340 acres : old lease of 19 

 years, lately expired : old rent 1,700Z., or 

 5Z. per acre. The farmer took off 18,000Z. 

 to 20,000^., and has just bought a handsome 

 estate in the neighbourhood, which he is im- 

 proving. This farm is re-let, on a new 

 lease, for 19 years, at a rent 0/2,000., or Ql. 

 per acre. 



No. 4. Two hundred and iifly acres, at 

 tliree miles from Edinburgh : rent 1,000/, to 

 1,200/. — Thrashing machine, with dressers 

 and finishers, on most approved principle, 

 made by Carlow, of Lenny Port, Costor- 

 phine, Edinburgh, cost 85Z., exclusive of 

 geering. Steam-engine, six horses' power, 

 complete, for 120Z., of Edinburgh manufac- 

 ture. Last year, the crop of wheat on this 

 farm reached six quarters to the acre, and 

 the whole was sold at 80s. 5 per quarter. 

 Contracts with blacksmith at 3Z. per annum, 

 for each pair of horses, including shoeing, 

 geer, plough and cart repairs, but no re- 

 newal. 



No. 5. and 6. In one hand, or at least 

 under one management. — Last year and this 

 together, has spent 1,800/. in draining alone: 

 this done with broken stones, which seems 

 generally preferred, is not only cheaper, but 

 more durable, than tiles. When tiles are 

 used, always put fats or pans, for them to 

 rest on. Draining here varies from 18 to 

 60 feet between drains. 



For seeding down, 1 bushel of rye grass, I 



8 lb. red clover, ( .„„„ 



4 " white do. J per acre. 



4 " yellow do. or trefoil, J 



If intended to lie down three years, or, 

 indeed, tioo, reverse the quantities of red 

 and white clover. — Lets his grass to a dai- 

 ryman, and contracts with him for sale of 

 his turnips. 



No. 7. Five hundred acres: rent 1,750/., 

 seven miles from Edinburgh. — Too far from 

 town to benefit, like the other farms, and a 

 stifFer quality of land ; grows less potatoes 

 and turnips, but very fine beans, and obliged 

 to keep stock. — General stock for fatting,. 



§ Bold for seed, being remarkably fine quality. 



