cbaf. xix. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Circumstances favourable to the Progress of 



AGRICULTURE in FlFE. 



I. .FIFE enjoys numerous means of improve- 

 ment, and these of easy access. Besides the great 

 quantity of animal dung produced by the nu- 

 merous herds of cattle which it rears and main- 

 tains, it possesses an inexhaustible fund of lime 

 conveniently situated for the greater part of the 

 county. Marie is to be found in many parts of 

 the county, and of an excellent quality. And 

 an extensive sea-coast furnishes the adjacent 

 grounds with a considerable supply of manure 

 from the sea-weed cast upon the shore. The 

 great abundance of coal, easily accessible to a- 

 bout two thirds of the county, while it contri- 

 butes much to domestic comfort, and enables 

 the fanners to procure lime for their land, in 

 sufficient quantity, and at a moderate rate, frees 

 them, at the same time, from that great waste 

 of time and labour, to which many other coun- 

 ties are subjected, in digging, winning, and car- 

 rying home, peats for fuel ; a business which, in 

 many places, occupies the farmer's servants ana 

 horses through almost the whole of the sum- 

 mer months, and which, therefore, must be a 

 great hindrance to the operations of husbandry, 



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