42 Improved Field Gates. 



and of course the farm, on which his cattle de- 

 pasture, is of no consequence to him, provided 

 it be secure, and worth the rent he contracts to 

 pay for the month, the season, or the year. 



- 



The farm which is conducted under Mr. Mon- 

 teith's own direction is under a good system of 

 management. The farming buildings are conve- 

 niently disposed^ and judiciously constructed. 

 Soiling is extensively practised. His horses in 

 winter are fed with steamed potatoes, and cut 

 straw, a practice much approved. These meri- 

 torious exertions have not only changed the ap- 

 pearance of Mr. Monteith's own noble property, 

 but have inspired his neighbours with a desire to 

 imitate and profit by his example. The advan- 

 tages are so evident, that the most prejudiced of 

 the old school could not dispute them ; and I feel 

 it as impossible to withhold my admiration, as to 

 bestow more than is merited. I observed a simple 

 but valuable method of hanging the field gates. 

 The posts are of stone : that on which the gate 

 hangs has an iron crank that passes through it, 

 with an eye, about an inch broad, one half of 

 which projects beyond the outer edge ; this is 

 secured by a triangular pin. If the post recede 

 from the upright, the perpendicular is rectified 

 by driving the pin. On our return we inspected 

 the farms by the river. I was sorry to observe 



