IMPROVEMENTS. 135 



was laid down to grass. The fodder was stipulated 

 to be consumed upon the farm, and all the dung to be 

 spread upon it.*' Other proprietors followed in these 

 courses, and the increased rents which such measures 

 demanded had the tendenc}^ to drive out the shiftless 

 farmers and replace them by men of energy and 

 force. It is obvious, as Aiton observes, that many 

 of those who pay the highest rent realize the largest 

 profits. This proceeds from the increased industry to 

 which they are roused, by knowing that they have a 

 higher rent to raise. And many of those whose rents 

 are extremely modei-ate, as well as some of the small 

 proprietors who pay no rent whatever, have by their 

 indolence been reduced to poverty. Some proprietors 

 Avithiu his kuowledo^e, haviua: gone through bank- 

 ruptcy and sold their land, occupying it as tenants at 

 high rents, have gained by industry as tenants double 

 the sum which they had obtained as the price of their 

 own property. 



In 1786 the Kilmarnock farmers established their 

 Society, and a few years after others were formed 

 at Maybole, Galston, Newmills, and other places.^" 

 From 1784 to 1795 the improvements advanced with 

 steady steps. From 1795 to 1814 the prices of 

 produce steadily increased under the influence of the 

 Napoleonic wars. The date of 1784 is that of the 

 origin of the Highland Society, whose prominent 

 objects were then stated to be to facilitate communi- 

 cation and advance agriculture ; and their list for the 



29 Alton, op. cit. p. 85. 

 '" Aiton, op. cit. p. 680. 



