334 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF cfap. XVI* 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Obstacles to Improvement ; including! Obervations 

 on Agricultural Legislation and Police* 



i. 1 HE Want of money has been suggested by 

 some as a principal obstacle to 1 the improvement 

 of their estates ; and I may add, that in some 

 cases,- where there is no want of money, there 

 may be a backwardness to apply it to this pur- 

 pose. In mentioning this, I do not mean to 

 insinuate, that the obstacle is either peculiar to, 

 or generally prevalent in Fife. Many of the 

 proprietors, of all ranks, have paid the greatest 

 attention to the amelioration of their lands. 

 Money has been laid out with an unsparing 

 hand ; and I am proud to say, that their exer- 

 tions have been equally judicious and success- 

 ful. At the same time, it must be admitted, 

 that the obstacle does exist, and has> to a certain 

 degree, had its effect. 



There are many tracts of land intrinsically 

 good, but so full of stones, or so drenched with 

 water, or so rugged and untractable, as to re- 

 quire a great outlay of money before they can 

 be brought into order. The proprietors are ei- 

 ther timid, and cannot think of risking the ne- 

 cessary expences ; or so circumstanced, that they 

 cannot spare the money without embarrassment, 

 perhaps material injury to their families. In 



