Additional Jnformation. 93 



the community, to advance rapidly towards perfection in their work is — in every 

 district of the country there is a Farmer's Society established ; and they meet at 

 stated times to discuss all questions of importance respecting improvements. Each 

 society sets a day apart annually (generally in February or March) for what we 

 call a ploughing match, when their servants meet on a field formerly appointed, 

 with their ploughs. A few prizes are distributed to the best performers. I was a 

 spectator on one of these fields in March last, when twenty-five of these two-horse 

 ploughs started for the prizes, and I never saw work executed to the same perfec- 

 tion. There were four prizes to be given ; and it was with the greatest difficulty 

 the judges were able to say who was most intitled. 



The dimensions of the furrows 5|- inches deep, and from nine to ten broad. 

 4th. From the improvement in the breed of horses, of making their harness, 

 and of the wheel-carriages, horses are able to perform much more labour. In the 

 west of Scotland we use oi>ly one horse for each cart, a singular circumstance two; 

 and the farmer's load of lime and other manures, varies from 15 cwt. to one ton ; 

 and in Glasgow and its vicinity much more. It is the lowest calculation to say, 

 that the carters in and about Glasgow, who make it their daily work to drive 

 grain, wood, &c. Sec, is 30 cwt. per one-horse cart. Even in going to Paisley, a 

 distance of 8 miles, while the carriage itself would not weigh more than 8 cwt. 

 You are certainly behind in your construction of carriages in England. I have 

 seen three fine horses in Yorkshire drawing an unwieldy machine of perhaps 25 cwt. 

 with stubble from the field in winter to the stable yard, and 1 am convinced the 

 load itself would not have weighed one half the machine in which it was con- 

 veyed : even in London, from the observations I was able to make, I am con- 

 vinced that the waggons in general would weigh nearly the one half of their load. 

 The weight of those machines must be a very great drawback up hill, or when the 

 roads are bad. 



5th. From the improvement in ploughing, draining, and manuring, the land in 

 general produces much better now than at the former period ; and I believe the 

 farmer that had 50 acres in tillage fourteen years ago, will have a greater quantity 

 of grain now from 30, which reserves 20 for grass, with the whole expense of the 

 labour, &c. of the 20 without the saving upon the 30. 



But although what I have advanced is strictly true, and consistent with my 

 knowledge, with regard to this district I have had the honour to report, yet it will 



