sfrt. ir. THE COUtfTY OF FIFE. i6i 



than formerly ; they are commonly of a better 

 kind, and more constantly employed, and there- 

 fore require a more plentiful and constant sup- 

 ply of oats The quantity of land annually 

 sown with this kind of grain cannot be comput- 

 ed at less than 30,000 acres, and it generally 

 turns out to be a very profitable crop. 



ij/, Preparation. Oats are sown upon ley 

 land broken up after hay or pasture. Frequent- 

 jy they succeed barley, if the barley has not beerf 

 sown down with grass-seeds, or if the grass has; 

 failed. They sometimes follow pease, some- 

 times turnip, and sometimes wheat. 



2^/, Sort, i. Blainslie^o called from the name 

 of the place where they are originally cultivat- 

 ed. This species possesses several properties, 

 which recommend it to attention. It will grow 

 and yield a good crop on land that would pro- 

 duce a very inferior crop of any other kind. It is' 

 early, and not easily shaken. It meals well, and 

 produces plenty of excellent straw. On strong 

 land, however, and in moist weather, it is apt 

 to lodge. 2. Botbrie Oats. This kind produces 

 nn abundant crop, and plenty of meal ; but the 

 straw is rather hard and coarse. It requires land 

 in good order, and is not so early as the former. 

 3. Red Oats. The cultivation of t'iiis kind is 

 becoming very common. It is well adapted to 

 cold soils, and ripens some weeks earlier than 

 common oats. The straw is neither abundant, 

 nor of a good quality.. But it stands well, is 

 not easily shaken, and gives plenty of meal. 

 From an acre of this kind of oats, sown on or- 

 dinary lands, I have known 9 bolls of meal pro- 

 duced. 4. A species called Early Brow?i, of 

 X * 



