66 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



risen to nearly five times the yearly rent. Still the reporter 

 has to say that the Scotch plough, drawn by three or four 

 horses, was generally used in the heavy soil ; lighter 

 ploughs, drawn by two horses, being only applied to the 

 ploughing of fallows. Turnips were not raised without 

 much trouble, and the return was uncertain. In Hamilton, 

 the culture of turnips was scarcely practised, except in 

 gardens. Clovers and rye-grass were cultivated for hay 

 and pasture, and no farmer laid down land to rest, without 

 sowing some of these plants upon it. The management of 

 the dairy was well advanced. In Lanark the Scotch 

 plough, drawn by three or four horses, was still chiefly in 

 use. Rotation of crops was being introduced, and out- 

 field land being brought into cultivation, lime being in 

 pretty general use as a manure. ' Turnips, though a most 

 profitable crop, were by no means in common use.' In the 

 parish of Lesmahago, ' the ancient distinctions of croft and 

 out-field land were still kept up. Lime, except by a few 

 people, was but sparingly applied. The Scotch plough, 

 nearly in the same state as it has been for the past century, 

 was almost universally used, it being only near the Clyde 

 where any modern improvement had begun to be intro- 

 duced. The culture of the turnip, to which the soil was 

 well adapted, had not yet been attempted to any consider- 

 able extent.' In the parish of New Monkland, the best 

 improved lands were in pasture, and let to graziers for 

 fattening sheep and black cattle. Lime had been intro- 

 duced. The Scotch plough, of light construction, drawn 

 by two and sometimes three horses, was chiefly used. Great 

 improvement had taken place in the rearing of draught 

 horses and milk cows. Turnip husbandry was little 

 practised, though the few trials made had succeeded well. 

 Cheese, equal to Stilton, perhaps not inferior to Parmesan, 

 was made by some families ; but this superior kind was 

 mostly made for private use. In Old Monkland the 

 farmers had formed themselves into a Society, which met 

 on the first Thursday of every month. Their object Avas 

 ' to communicate their knowledge, and purchase the most 

 proper books relating to their business.' Several ploughing 



