296 



Farming of East Lothian. 



bushels ; while potatoes could not be grown to one-half the 

 present extent without these two powerful agents — thorough- 

 drainage and guano. 



The average weight of turnips grown may be estimated at 

 18 tons per acre. The swede occupies less than one-third ; the 

 purple-top yellow and white globe occupy the largest space. 

 Since the introduction of Skirving's purple-top yellow, the swede 

 has been restricted in breadth. 



The average produce of wheat per acre for the whole county, 

 for the last five years, may be taken at 31 bushels ; barley, at 44 ; 

 oats, 50 ; beans, 28 ; hay at 3360 lbs, ; potatoes at 5f tons per 

 acre. The average weight of wheat per bushel is 62 lbs. ; barley, 

 55 ; oats, 42^ ; and beans, 66. The weight of the straw is seldom 

 ascertained, except in experiments. It varies considerably, being 

 dependent on variety grown, season, and nature and condition of 

 the soil. These averages are much above those in the Statistical 

 Returns. (See Appendix.) It must however be kept in view 

 that the crop of 1853 is confessedly below an ordinary average. 



The obtaining of manure was, and still is, the great desideratum 

 of the improving farmer. While the introduction of guano has 

 supplied a new fertilizing agent, the increasing demands made 

 upon the soil render the manufacture of farm-yard manure still 

 an essential part of successful management. Previous to the 

 introduction of portable manures, the feeding of stock was the 

 chief source of supplying manure. In this county the keeping 

 of stock has always been studied by the farmer ; while at present, 

 the feeding both of cattle and sheep is more extensively 

 practised in East Lothian than in any district in Scotland. The 

 stock are fattened partly for the profit realised, and partly for 

 the purpose of converting the turnip and straw into manure. 

 There is no particular breed of cattle connected with this county. 

 With the exception of one or two herds of short-horns, the cows 

 Icept are Ayrshires, half-bred short-horns, and nondescripts. Cattle 

 are reared by few farmers. The chief difficulty is the obtain- 

 ing of calves sufficiently well bred, few pure short-horn bulls 

 being kept. Where cattle are reared, they are usually fattened 

 and sold off at two years old, at prices varying from 12/. to 25/. 

 The great proportion of the cattle fattened is purchased. At 

 one time Highland, Aberdeen, and polled Angus cattle were 

 the only kinds fattened. The two latter breeds are now generally 

 fattened in the districts they are reared in. Within the last 15 

 years Irish-bred cattle have been introduced in considerable 

 numbers. Independent of the majority of these not being well 

 bred, the hardships they usually underwent previous to their 

 arrival in this county operated so much against their health and 

 progress, that Irish-bied cattle are now more neglected. It 



