Farming of East Lothian^ 



313 



The oat crop is o-rown after grass, the variety being the potato. The 

 average pro(Juce is 63 bushels per acre — the vi'eijihc per bushel about 44 lbs. 



The variety ol" bean grown is the Scottish, mixed with one-fifth of peas — 

 average produce about 35 bushels per acre. In 1852 it was 45 bushels. 



The Regent variety of the potato is alone grown. The average produce of 

 marketable potatoes has been about 6^ tons. The produce this year exceeds 

 an average, being above 11 tons per acre. 



The turnips, potatoes, and beans, are manured with about 9 tons of farm-yard 

 manure and 3 cwt. of Peruvian guano. After the removal of the bean crop, 

 a half-dressing of farm-yard manure, 5 tons, is given to the bean stubble — where 

 this is not given guano is substituted. The average quantity of Peruvian 

 guano purchased is 35 tons. 



Mr, Brodie, in his evidence before the House of Commons in 1836, gives the 

 following as the average produce of the nine preceding years, namely, from 

 1827 up to 1835, both years' crop included : — wheat, 29 bushels; barley, 43 

 bushels; beans, 26 bushels; oats, 48 bushels; potatoes, about 7 tons. It 

 should be mentioned, however, that at this time he occupied Aimsfield Mains 

 along with Abbey Mains, and that the produce of the former was greater than 

 the latter, thus affecting the average. The estimate is therefore fully above 

 what was obtained from Abbey Mains. 



The average number of horses employed on the farm is 13. The mode of 

 feeding is with oats and beans — two-thirds of oats to one-third of beans. Four 

 feeds weighing 22 lbs. are allowed per day ; one of these is of boiled barley 

 and beans : their forage is bean-straw and hay. During summer they are 

 grazed ; taken up by the end of August. When hard wrought during summer^ 

 they receive a few oats. The horses are partly bred, and partly purchased. 



A fixed steam-engine is the motive power of the threshing mill ; a straw- 

 cutter is also used. Mr. Brodie is of opinion that with a full crop it would 

 now require six horses during the winter months to move the threshing mill. 



Part of the cattle which are fattened are reared upon the farm, and part 

 pui'chased. About 25 calves are reared annually for this purpose, 4 cows are 

 kept. The calves receive milk mixed with linseed gruel till they are three 

 months old. Afterwards, while on grass, they receive one lb. of cake daily. 

 After harvest they are put upon half turnip, with a little oil-cake. When 

 year-olds, they are grazed on first year's seeds. Cake is allowed from the 

 beginning of August ; by the middle of September they are put upon turnip, 

 receiving what turnip they can consume till they are sold fat. During the 

 last three months of feeding they receive 4 lbs. of cake, which is increased to 

 6 lbs. per day. Part are sold in March, and part in May. The average price 

 for the last three years was 17/. 10s. Last year the whole were sold in March 

 — part at 20/., and part at 17/. \0s. At the present time (14th November) 

 the year-olds are in good condition for the butcher, and if sold at present in 

 the Edinburgh Market would bring about 15/. each. Mr, Brodie keeps a 

 short-horn bull, and thus obtains well-bred calves, the bull serving the hinds' 

 cows in the district, and the calves being purchased by Mr. Brodie. 



About 40 cattle are fattened annualiy. There are upwards of 80 cattle, 

 calves, &c., upon the farm. The cattle purchased are crosses of the short-horn 

 — price this year (in October) 13/. 5,s. They are fed in the same manner as 

 the home-breds: the average sum left for keep is bs. per week on those pur- 

 chased. Mr. Brodie sehlom gives cake and corn, except to finish ofi", not con- 

 sidering the practice profitable, though he has been occasionally well repaid 

 for the use of these substances. 



Mr. Brodie by experiment satisfied liimself tliat feeding in open courts is 

 preferable to boxes. The cattle are therefore all kept in open courts with 

 sheds — the courts being 36 feet square, the slieds 36 feet by 16. Seven cattle 

 are generally put into each court. 



