314 



Farming of East Lothian. 



At one time Mr. Brodie kept a flock of Leicester sheep for breeding tups ; 

 this he has abandoned. The only sheep kept thi-ough the winter are draft 

 ewes, crosses between the Leicester and Cheviot, which have lambs by South- 

 down rams. This cross is preferred to that from Leicester tups, the lambs 

 bringing a higher price, The lambs are sold fat, also the ewes. About 120 

 ewes are purchased annually in September, and all sold of^' by August of the 

 following year. The same stock has been obtained for the last four years, 

 during which time the ewes have risen from 265. to 31s. 6d, the latter being 

 the sum paid this year. The average payment for keep is about 30s. ; last 

 season it was upwards of 40s. It must be observed, however, that the stock 

 is always well kept the time they are on the farm. Besides the ewe stock, 

 about 200 half-bred hogs are purchased in May ; these are fed upon grass, 

 sold in autumn, and usually leave %d. a week for keep for grass. 



A few pigs are kept ; the annual sum, however, realised for these does not 

 exceed 20/. 



The number of cows kept for servants is eight ; these are grazed in summer, • 

 .and kept in the byre in winter on straw and chaff. 



The number of yearly servants is ten ; they are paid in kind, receiving a 

 free house ; the annual sum paid for labour is 250/. ; the outworkers receive 

 10(i. per day ; harvest wages last season were 123/. — estimated expense of 

 food 50/. ; one of Bell's Reapers was employed ; tradesmen's accounts about 

 60/. • public burdens 35/. ; rent per acre, about 5| bushels, which is estimated 

 at the second fiars prices of the county. It may be mentioned as a somewhat 

 interesting circumstance that Mr. Brodie has occupied 500 to 600 acres of land for 

 60 years, during which time he has paid as rent betwixt 60,000/. and 70,000/. ; 

 taking an equal or even greater sum for labour, manure, &c., the amount of 

 agricultural produce he has raised must have approximated to 200,000/. 



West Fekton. 



The farm of West Fenton, occupied by Mr. Peter Handyside, since 1822, 

 and recently re-taken upon a 21 years' lease, consists of 560 acres, 5 of which 

 are occupied with buildings, garden, &c. The land is comparatively flat, and 

 does not exceed in altitude 40 feet. The soil is naturally a heavy clay .loam ; 

 part rests upon the boulder clay and part upon the trap rock. The trap rock 

 does not, however, greatly influence the character of the surface soil, so that 

 the whole may be regarded as a loamy clay. The farm is laid out in large 

 fields, the number being 19; the smallest consists of 26 acres, and the two 

 largest about 60 acres each. The fences are thorn, kept closely trimmed, and 

 are never allowed to be above 4^- feet in height. West Fenton, at Mr. 

 Handyside 's entry, was in high condition, he having followed Mr. John 

 Brodie, whose present farm of Abbey Mains we have above described. Mr. 

 H. drained at first with stones, these drains being what are termed Scottice 

 rummle drains. In 1824 a field was drained with house tiles, three being used, 

 one as a flat, and the other two forming the arch. These drains are still in 

 good condition. In 1830 Mr. H. commenced to use the common drain 

 tile with flat. Since then the whole farm has been drained, chiefly at a dis- 

 tance of 18 feet, and at a depth of Irom 24 to 40 inches. Mr. Handyside 

 prefers 30 inches to any other depth, the subsoil being a stiff" clay. In 

 draining the farm, the sum expended was upwards of 2000/., the whole being 

 done by the tenant, 200/. excepted. The farm was nearly all limed by Mr. 

 Brodie during his occupancy. Mr. Handyside has limed about 100 acres. 



Two rotations are followed, the four and the six course. Under the four- 

 course are two-thirds of the farm, the remaining third, the inferior soil, is 

 cultivated under the six-course. The four-course is — 1. Turnip; 2. Wheat; 

 S. Grass ; 4. Oats. For the last two years barley has been grown in place 

 ,of oats. The number of acres under the respective crops last season, with the 



