Farming of East Lothian. 



303 



paratively short : diseases of the chest, partly superinduced by 

 the climate and partly by disregard to proper ventilation of 

 stables, carries off in some seasons considerable numbers. Hard 

 work with high feeding, especially in the spring months, also 

 tells against the horse's period of service. On some farms the 

 stocking requires to be renewed three times during a nineteen 

 years' lease. The average value of good farm-horses at present 

 is about 40Z. ; superior, 45/. to 50/. The saddle and carriage 

 horses are inferior. A few of these are reared, but the Scottish 

 farmer in knowledge of the points of these lighter breeds is far 

 behind the Yorkshire farmer. The importance of a good dam is 

 not properly understood. 



One feature of East Lothian farming is the breadth under 

 potatoes. Previous to thorough-draining, the introduction of 

 guano, and the formation of the North British Railway, the 

 growing of potatoes for sale was not found profitable. Since 

 the appearance of the potato-blight the cultivation of this root 

 has been greatly extended, and is very remunerative : in some 

 seasons, such as the present, eminently so, the crop being large 

 and with little disease. This season the potatoes are being sent 

 principally to the English market, London taking the greater 

 proportion. Railway carriage to London from East Lothian is 

 3O5. per ton, in trucks of 5 tons ; expenses connected with sale 

 about 65. to 7^. The returns of sales with proceeds generally reach 

 East Lothian eight days after the potatoes are put upon the 

 railway. The prices obtained, deducting all expenses, have been 

 from 5/. to 11. per ton ; occasionally even above this. The most 

 of the potatoes are, however, purchased by dealers in the county, 

 and not sent direct to salesmen : prices given, from 5/. to 6/. 5^. 



Lime is now seldom applied, and, when applied, generally in 

 the form of compost. No attempts have been made in this 

 county to apply liquid manure by distributing-pipes. Indeed, 

 during dry winters and springs, difficulty is sometimes felt 

 in reducing the straw into manure. Farm-yard manure 

 when applied in autumn is usually in the rough state ; when 

 in spring, it is considerably decomposed by fermentation. It 

 is especially necessary for the turnip-crop that the manure 

 should be sufficiently decomposed and moist. The amount of 

 farm-yard manure produced on a farm varies considerably, being 

 from 8 to 16 tons per acre in the four-course rotation ; under the 

 six-course more straw is raised, and consequently more manure is 

 obtained. Guano, however, is now all but the indispensable 

 fertilizer, especially for the turnip and potato, and has nearly 

 superseded other portable manures, nitrate of soda excepted. 

 This latter, Avithin the last year or two, has been applied to 

 wheat with the best effect. Its application previously was con- 



