120 Extracts from the Replies to 



LANERK. 



Mr. John Naismith. 

 The rise which has taken place in the rent of land since 1790, is almost incredible. 

 In the sheep farms, on the mountains of the upper ward, it is doubled ; in the 

 arable parts of the same ward, the rise is from two to three -fifths of the former 

 rent. In the middle and lower wards, wherever leases have lately expired, the 

 rent is in all cases doubled, and in many tripled. The great rise on the price of 

 live stock, justifies a considerable rise on the rent of breeding farms; the dairy 

 also is much more productive: but the excessive rise on the rent of arable farms 

 is quite unaccountable. A sensible expert husbandman, who has occupied a farm 

 since the year 1769, and kept regular books and registers of all occurrences to this 

 time, showed me a curious statement he had lately m.ade. He had made up accounts 

 of his outlay of every kind on one sidej and all that he had received for the pro- 

 duce of his farm on the other, for the three years near the commencement of his 

 farming; this he had contrasted with similar accounts for the three last years: the 

 result was, that the balance in his favour was near t0j{|30. on an average yearly 

 less in the last period than in the first. The farm is upwards of 150 acres, mo^dy 

 arable; part is pastured in rotation, a dairy kept, and some young cattle reared ; 

 there had been only one moderate rise of rent. If such be the case in general, as 

 it is believed, it will frequently be found the great rise of rents must ruin the 

 agriculture of the country, by diminishing agricultural capital, and dispiriting the 

 cultivators. 



The cost of preparing an acre of turnips has increased in proportion to the in- 

 crease on the articles of which it is composed. At present the following is a state 

 of these expenses in the upper ward. 



2 ploughings, 2 ridgings equal to 1 ploughing, makes three, which with 



harrowiiig, at 85. each _ _ _ - £1 4 o 



25 cubic yards of dung, at 35. 6d. ^4. 7^, 6d. ; carriage, spreading, 



&c. 8i. 6J. - - - - 4160 



Sowing seed and rolling - • - - - 036 



First and second hand hoeing 45. 8ff.; 2 horse hoeings 55. - o t^ 8 



il 2 

 If the )and be full of rooted weeds, an additional ploughing and breaking 



must be given, which will cost - - - - 1 o O 



7 13 2 

 An acre of barley may be prepared for the same cost. 



