Moss reclaimed without Ploughing. 65 



As we proceeded I could not help smiling at 

 the surprise which our appearance occasioned 

 in the countenances of the spectators. 



Our first visit was to Mr. Gill on the lower 

 Wigton road. His crops of corn were abun- 

 dant his fallows clean; and there wanted 

 nothing but a due proportion of green crop to 

 have given him a conspicuous place among the 

 Lothian and Berwickshire farmers. 



Our attention was next directed to the farm 

 of Mr. Henry, jun. who has completed some 

 very judicious and spirited improvements. His 

 land ditching (sod or shoulder draining) has 

 been very extensive ; in the course of the last 

 year it exceeded one thousand rods of seven 

 yards each. 



This valuable practice originated here with 

 Mr. Boyd, and among the best farmers is now 

 rapidly extending. We here saw a few acres of 

 moss, which had been brought into cultivation 

 by paring, burning, and sowing down with 

 grass seeds without ploughing. The appearance 

 of the surface confirmed the opinion I had pre- 

 viously been disposed to entertain of this 

 method ; and I was glad to see Mr. Boyd was 



VOL. I. F 



