Farming of East Lothian. 



307 



service, the demand for outworkers lias produced a state of matters 

 which will doubtless affect the future character of the rural popu- 

 lation. Since 1847 a considerable number of Irish labourers, with 

 their families, have soug^ht work in this countv, and many of these 

 have become located, chiefly in the towns. This immigration has 

 already affected the poor-rates, and, as in other districts of Scot- 

 land, will tend to lower the position of the rural labourer. The 

 usual wage of day-labourers is from 9.9. to 12.'?. per week, but drains 

 are generally cut by the piece, and with this sort of piece-work 

 higher wages are generally secured. 



In East Lothian, as in Scotland generally, the terms of tenure 

 are on lease, usually of nineteen years' duration. The period of 

 entry is at \yhitsunday to the grass and turnip break, with the 

 dwelling-house, and part of the other buildings : to the remainder 

 of the land after the separation of the crop ; the outgoing tenant 

 keeping possession of the barn, with a cot-house or two, till the 

 following Whitsunday, for disposing of the corn crop. ]No 

 arrangement could be more objectionable as regards the relations 

 ^of the outgoing and incoming tenants. A IMartinmas entry to 

 the whole farm w^ould prevent much of the annoyance inseparable 

 from the present system. The straw is generally steel hoiL\ and in 

 some instances also the manure. 



Antiquated and absurd clauses are to be found in almost every 

 lease ; leases being generally fram^ed by lawyers unacquainted 

 with agriculture. Such clauses are seldom insisted on : if they 

 were, the system of modem farming could not be followed out. 

 It is only w-hen misunderstandings arise between the contracting 

 parties that such clauses are brought to bear against the occupant. 

 They are also partially insisted on towards the end of the lease. 

 It may be mentioned as a somewhat striking anomaly, that the 

 number of such clauses is not only increasing, but the clauses are 

 being made even more restrictive. There is no 'subject bearing- 

 on Scottish agriculture which requires a more complete revision, 

 than the nature and terms of a lease. 



The rent is generally fixed partly in money and partly in grain, 

 the grain being usually wheat, to be calculated at the first or- 

 second nars prices of the county for each year. In some in- 

 stances the average prices of seven years are taken. It m.ay be 

 noticed the rent is all payable in money, not in grain. The terms 

 of payment are generally Candlemas and Lammas, 2nd of Februarjr 

 and 2nd of August, after reaping the crop. In some instances 

 Martinmas and AYhitsundav are the term.s of payment. Grain 

 rents, which were extensivelv adopted during the agricultural 

 depression of 1822, are preferred by tenants, from some vague 

 idea of money rents being difficult to pav in years of low prices^ 

 Vi e believe, however, that mistakes are m.ore frequently made in 



VOL. XIV. Y 



