II. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 147 



SECT. II. FALLOWING. 



Du R ING the existence of the old system of hus- 

 bandry, which seems to have been much the same 

 all over Scotland, the practice of fallowing was 

 unknown. That part of the farm which lay at 

 the greatest distance from the farm-stead, and, 

 therefore, called ti\z out-field, was usually thrown 

 into a certain number of divisions, called breaks^ 

 and tathed in succession by the cattle folded 

 upon them. From each of these breaks, four, 

 and sometimes five crops of indifferent oats were 

 taken, and then the land laid out for pasture, 

 without sown grass, and in very bad condition. 

 In this state it remained, till its turn for tathing 

 again came round. 



In-field^ or croft-land, was usually divided 

 into four parts, and kept constantly in crop, by 

 the stable and byre dung. The course gene- 

 nerally followed was ; 1st, bear with dung, and 

 then three crops of oats ; or, if pease were sown, 

 ist, pease with dung; 2d, bear; 3d and 4th, oats: 

 Or, ist, bear with dung; 2d, oats; jd, pease or 

 beans ; 4th, oats. By such a course, it is ob- 

 vious that the land must have been much in- 

 jured, and scanty crops produced. All kinds 

 of weeds being allowed to grow and shed their 

 seeds, without any method being taken to des- 

 troy them, the ground, of necessity, became 

 foul. The weeds, drawing to themselves the 

 strength of the manure, became more abundant 

 and luxuriant, whilst the grain, starved by the 

 want of its proper nourishment, and unable tQ 

 T 2 



