80 Irish Practice of procuring Ashes. 



success has laid a foundation on which future 

 hopes may reasonably be sustained in similar 

 enterprises, as any attempt which a few years 

 ago would have been deemed imprudently 

 hazardous will now be undertaken with confi- 

 dence in the prospect of a successful result. 



Our attention was attracted to two newly- 

 erected cabins, the proprietors of which were 

 busily employed in procuring ashes by the 

 burning of sods, for the improvement of some 

 small enclosures about their dwellings. We 

 found they were Irishmen, and were pursuing 

 the husbandry of their native country. I should 

 not have expected to find that the agricultural 

 practices of Scotland could 7 be benefited by 

 those of Ireland. On all extensive districts 

 which are out of the reach of lime, and are 

 destitute of chalk, marl, or other adventitious 

 assistance, paring and burning the sod, while in 

 a green state, and by a slow, smothered fire, will 

 always reward the labour. A portion of vege- 

 table alkali, which is highly beneficial to the 

 growth of plants, is thus procured, beside the 

 advantages which may be derived by the ashes 

 of the burned clay or other soil. 



Glenluce is a poor miserable place, which 

 induced us to make our stay no longer than 



