298 



Farming of East Lothian. 



those fed in stalls or boxes. During fine weather, the rate 

 of progress is found to be equal. Full turnips are generally 

 given, the yellow and swedes being cut. The weight of turnip 

 consumed is cispendent on age, breed, condition, and size. The 

 ordinary consumption varies from 1^ to 1| cwt. per day : IJ^ cwt. 

 may be taken as the average. For the first two, three, or four 

 months, turnip alone is allowed. For the last six or ten weeks, 

 linseed-cake or corn is given. Ten years ago cake and corn were 

 used in considerable quantities ; sounder views, however, on the 

 profitableness of the employment of cake are rapidly extending. 

 Some of the best feeders in the county now make use of little 

 cake or corn, having been convinced that payment for the cake is 

 not obtained, and that manure can be had cheaper in the form of 

 guano than by consuming oilcake by cattle. The usual estimated 

 allowance for the increased value of the manure when oilcake 

 has been given is 30^. for each ton of cake ; but many farmers 

 now believe that guano to the value of SOs. (3 cwt.) is more 

 profitable. The advancing, and we believe the sound, opinion is 

 to apply guano liberally to the turnip crop to increase the weight 

 per acre, and thus obtain roots for feeding rather than expend 

 money on the purchase of oilcake, especially at recent rates. 



The number of cattle fattened in the county bears a relation 

 to the number of sheep and the weight of the root crops. The 

 general calculation is, that one acre of turnips should feed if 

 cattle ; but as part of the turnip crop is given to farm-horses> 

 and to wintering cattle, and a considerable proportion also con- 

 sumed by sheep, possibly the number of cattle fattened on tur- 

 nips does not exceed the number of the acres of turnips. This, 

 having been 16,260 acres in 1853, would give that as the number 

 of winter-fattened cattle in East Lothian. In making our esti- 

 mate, we do not overlook that generally each animal receives in 

 addition a proportion of extra food, possibly to the value of 20^. 

 to 6O5. The usual rate obtained for full allowance of turnips for 

 cattle is from 3^. Qd. to 4.5, 65. per week, 5^. being the extreme. 

 When let by the acre the price ranges from hi. to 8Z. per acre, 

 according to the v/eight of crop, situation, accommodation, &c. 

 The turnips on the estate of Phantassie were annually let by 

 public competition for several years. Extent between 100 and 

 200 acres : average rate nearly 9/., to be fed off on the land. 



The number of sheep reared on the arable farms is inconsider- 

 able, though there are several flocks of pure Leicesters for breed- 

 ing, the tup lambs being sold into other districts. For the last 

 two seasons, especially last summer, a good many of the lambs 

 usually sold fat have been hogged, and kept on to be sold 

 when fat, farmers finding that they had to pay more for holding 

 lambs than they were obtaining for their own in the fat market.. 



