312 



Farming of East Lothian. 



brought to the surface, broken, and put into drains. Besides, upwards of 

 12,000 cart-loads of stones were brought from quarries. Mr. Brodie has always 

 been a deep cultivator, consequently all the stones which interfered with the 

 plough were removed and put into drains. The land was plain fallowed, lime 

 applied, and wheat grown generally with rape-dust ; the expense in one season 

 on some of the fields for fallowing, removing stones, drains, lime, and manure 

 previous to sowing the wheat crop, was 26/. per acre. The sum paid for lime 

 during the first five years was 1360/. At first few turnips could be raised ; 

 these took the place of the plain fallow only after the land was thorough-drained. 

 The straw was made into manure by cattle, generally polled Angus ; these 

 received a few turnips, and were afterwards fattened upon the grass. In 1832 

 furrow draining was commenced, and the whole farm has been gone over at an ex- 

 pense of about 6/. ])er acre. The price of tiles when draining was commenced 

 was 66s. per 1000. The tile account for some years was about 200/. The 

 sum allowed by the landlord was 1000/. for drainage and buildings. The 

 outlay in draining the farm has been considerably above 2500/. At first drains 

 were cut 24 to 30 inches deep. These were found on some of the fields not 

 to dry the land thoroughly, and the tiles v.'cre relifted, and the drains cut 48 

 to 54 inches deep. 



The farm is divided into 17 fields, the largest of which is upwards of 60 

 acres. The rotation is a seven-course, and is strictly adhered to, Mr. Brodie 

 being bound by his lease to keep the land in grass two years. The rotation is — 

 1, turnip ; 2, wheat or barley ; 3 and 4, grass depastured ; 5, oats or barley ; 

 6, beans or potatoes ; 7, wheat. The following is the extent of the respective 

 crops of the season 1852 : — 



Turnips ... 72 acres. Beans ... 33 acres. 



Wheat .... 91 „ Vetches. . . 7 „ 



Barley .... 49 Potatoes. , . 31 „ 



Grasses. . . . Il7 Turnip-seed . 5 „ 



Oats 4G „ 



The turnips cultivated are the Swede, Skirving's Purple-top yellow, and 

 the White Globe. Fully one half is Skirving's Purple-top. The turnips are 

 singled by hand, at a distance of 12 inches. In this Mr. Brodie differs from 

 his neighbours generally, singling by the hoe being the common method. 



The average weight of turnip is 22 tons ; the whole is consumed on the 

 farm, three-fourths by cattle, the remainder by sheep. 



The wheat is usually sown in November and December ; the variety chiefly 

 grown is Hopetoun. No other kind indeed has been grown upon the farm for 

 some years, till within the last two years. In 1852 an experiment was made 

 with Fenton, Archer's prolific, and Hopetoun. The two former gave the highest 

 produce. These three are now the varieties grown. 



The highest average produce of wheat was in 1852, it being that season 45 

 bushels per acre ; the lowest average was in 1848, being 31 bushels. The 

 average produce of wheat may be taken at 39 bushels per acre, average w^eight 

 63 lbs. per bushel. 



Barley is occasionally grown after turnip — variety Chevalier. The average 

 produce for the last three years is fully 64 bushels per acre — the weight per 

 bushel being 56 lbs. 



The grass-seeds sown are of rye-grass 5 lbs. perennial, 5 lbs. Italian mixed 

 with 7 lbs. red, 6 lbs. white clover, 4 lbs. cow-grass. This season Alsike 

 clover is substituted for the cow-grass. In future the proportion of Italian will 

 be increased and perennial diminished. The grass is occasionally top-dressed 

 with 21 cwt. of guano. This has a marked efiect upon the fatness of the 

 lambs, and is found a profitable application. The quantity of stock kept per 

 acre varies according to the nature of the season ; the stock being mixed, horses, 

 cattle, and sheep, no correct estimate can be given. 



