282 



Farming of East Lothian. 



being carefully spread, is ploughed in, a furrow from 8 to 12 inches 

 being the ordinary depth. Some prefer ploughing across, some 

 along the ridge. The formxcr is becoming yearly more general, 

 it being found that the land is in better condition in spring, and 

 consequently involving less labour. Some farmers, dispensing 

 altogether with spring ploughing, make use only of the grubber 

 in preparing the land previous to sowing. On some stiff 

 retentive clays, or very light friable soils, even this is found in- 

 jurious. The usual practice, however, still is to give two 

 furrows in spring, sometimes across the ridge, each furrow 

 being followed by harrowing, grubbing, rolling, and collecting 

 of root- weeds. Where the land has a tendency to be cloddy the 

 roller is used. Of these Crosskill's is most esteemed where the 

 clods are very large and hard ; but Cambridge's, or the smooth 

 cast-metal roller, makes a finer surface for obtaining a haird. 



As the weight of the root-crop is greatly dependent upon the 

 period at which it is sown, it becomes necessary to study what- 

 ever will facilitate progress. It is found that, on a farm where 

 five pairs of horses are kept, the following arrangement is the most 

 conducive to expedition, the field being previously reduced to a 

 proper tilth : — Three ploughs are employed to drill, 3 horses in 

 single carts to apply the manure, and 1 horse in the turnip- 

 barrow to sow the seed. The manure is generally stored at the 

 end of the field : when not in the field, two or more horses are 

 required for carting to keep the ploughs going. In commencing 

 the sowing of the field, the side farthest from the gate is selected. 

 After from 12 to 16 drills 28 inches apart are formed, a cart with 

 manure passes down, the manure is drawn out, the cart still 

 going on, into little heaps, sufficient for manuring three drills. 

 As one cart is emptied another is ready to take its place, a boy 

 being employed to drive the cart to and from the manure-heap. 

 Female labourers follow to spread the manure, 6 being the 

 number required to keep the three ploughs busily going. The 

 portable manures are sown by another labourer, either male or 

 female. As soon as the manure is spread, the ploughs pass 

 down the drills, cleaving the former drills to cover in the 

 manures. Thus, in passing up, the ploughs form drills in which 

 the manure is deposited, and, in passing down, reform the drills, 

 covering in the manure. The turnip-barrow, which sows 2 drills, 

 follows, thus completing the operation. The breadth completed 

 in 9| hours is 4 or 5 acres — on very friable soils even more. 



If farmyard manure has been applied in autumn, portable 

 manures alone are applied in spring. An allowance of from 2 to 

 4 cwt. of guano, or 1 to 2 quarters of ground or dissolved bones, 

 is given. Guano has, however, almost superseded bones or 

 arpe-dust. When farmyard manure is alone applied in spring, 



