302 



Farming of East Lothian, 



There are no dairies in this county, the dryness of the climate 

 operating against the profitable following out of this branch of hus- 

 bandry, at least by depasturing. The usual practice is to keep no 

 more cows than are required for the use of the farm. When 

 calves are reared, an extra cow or two are kept. Milk for the 

 reapers is often purchased in Edinburgh. 



Pigs are generally kept, but to no great extent. The young 

 in some instances are sold, when taken from the sow, to 

 hinds and others ; on other farms they are kept and fattened, 

 generally weighing when sold from 8 to 10 stones. Some 

 farmers allow the young pigs to run among the cattle to pick up 

 any waste food — others confine them. The number of pigs 

 was 5580, sucking-pigs not being included. Nearly a half 

 of these belonged to the farm labourers. The breeds of pigs 

 have been greatly improved by the introduction of the Berk- 

 shire and Suffolk. There are few farms, however, on which pigs 

 are sold to the extent of lOOZ. a-year — the general impression 

 being that the keeping of pigs is not profitable beyond con- 

 suming the waste and very light grain of the farm. 



The keeping of poultry is not extensively followed in this 

 county, being kept more for convenience than as a source of 

 profit. The proceeds generally in eggs, and occasionally turkeys, 

 are regarded as the pin-money of the ladies of the farmer's 

 family. 



The number of horses in East Lothian is 4450 ; of these 

 about 40 are race-horses in training at Gullane, and other 30 to 

 40 are Arabs and half-Arabs, a breeding stud at Dunbar. About 

 1300 may be set aside for carriage, saddle, and breeding horses. 

 This leaves 3100 for farm purposes, or a pair of horses for each 70 

 arable acres. The number of acres a pair of horses can undertake 

 is very much dependent upon the nature of the farm and the system 

 of cropping. They may not be equal on some farms to more than 

 50, while on others they may reach even 100 acres. The horses 

 used are chiefly the Clydesdale, partly reared, and partly pur- 

 chased in the west of Scotland, in about equal proportions.* 

 The period of service of the horse in East Lothian is com- 



* The ploughing is performed by 2 horses yoked abreast. Sixty years ago, 4 

 horses, two and two abreast, was all but universal. The carting is now performed 

 by single-horse carts. Thirty years ago, and even later, 2 horses yoked in line, 

 tandem, was very common. This change is partly the result of improvements in 

 the construction of the plough and cart, with better kept roads ; also in a superior 

 description of horses ; still more, however, in the manner of feeding them. Sixty 

 years ago, the horse was, during winter, seldom allowed oats. In spring, 

 a few, with pea-straw, were allowed ; during summer, he was compelled to pick up 

 his food in the fields, always stabled during the night, and fed with thistles or 

 inferior grasses. Now, during winter and spring, he always receives oats and 

 beans, generally from 12 lbs, to 20 lbs. per day, and during summer he is either 

 depastured, or, when kept in the stable, fed on cut grass or vetches. 



