130 IGNORANCE AND BIGOTRY. 



their cattle, and mixing the blood so procured with 

 what oatmeal they could obtain. ^'^ 



At this period, the farmers were altogether ignor- 

 ant of the fundamental principles of agriculture, and 

 were so much preoccupied with mysterious and ab- 

 struse points of systematic divinity that they sought 

 for no other knowledge ; and the time which should 

 have been spent on the farm, was occupied in the labors 

 of reform, in demolishing churches, and hunting down 

 the popish clergy, who were the best farmers then in 

 Scotland. A good crop they imputed to the favor, 

 and a bad one to the frowns of Heaven, and, know- 

 ing nothing of the principles of vegetation, sought 

 their agricultural returns by greater sanctity and 

 longer prayers, in the place of that labor which 

 springs from understanding." Innovations were 

 resisted. The introduction of a winnowing machine 

 was noticed from the pulpit, and prejudice fostered 

 against it, even to the extent of calling it the " De'il's 

 wind." Accidents happening to those seeking agri- 

 cultural reform were considered special providences, 

 expressing the disapprobation of Deity. 



Alton, in speaking of the enclosures of the county, 

 remarks that there were no dykes in Ayrshire till 

 about the year 1750, and very few till after 1760. 

 Nine tenths of the fences have been formed since 

 1766.1" 



Mr. Eobertson, one of the ministers of Kilmar- 



1! Quoted in Alton's Survey of Ayrshire, p. 69. See also a similar account, 

 Farmers' Mag. vol. 15, p. 173. 



IS Alton, op. cit, p. 74. Read, also, chap v, vol. 2, of Buckle's History of 

 Civilization in England. 



i-* Op. cit, p. 221. See, also, Farmers' Mag. vol. 15, 173. 



