316 



Farming of East Lothian. 



cattle (November, 1853) was, 15 cattle at 19/. per head. These were pur- 

 chased in April at 8Z. — grazed two months, afterwards kept in courts on grass 

 and tares, receiving 4 lbs. of cake daily — for the last two months fed on turnip, 

 with 6 lbs. of cake. The cattle are usually purchased in the September and 

 October Falkirk markets, half-bred short-horns being preferred. The number 

 at present in the process of fattening is 74. The cattle are kept in open curtains 

 with shedding, each curtain containing from 8 to 12 animals. After the cattle 

 are two months on turnip alone, 4 lbs. of oilcake daily are given ; this is 

 increased to 6 till they are sold. The average price obtained for keep is about 

 55. per week. Mr. Handyside would not feed cattle except for converting 

 the straw into manure, the profits obtained from fattening sheep being greater. 

 It may be mentioned, as showing the great change which has taken place in 

 the number of animals fattened in East Lothian, that when Mr. Handyside 

 entered on this farm, 1823, the number fattened was 15 annually, and 30 win- 

 tered, which were afterwards fattened off upon the grass. At that time the 

 cattle^ were generally polled Angus. In 1833, 54 cattle were full fed, no 

 sheep were fed on turnip, the whole sheep stock being confined to 100 or 120 

 half-bred ewes, Leicester and Cheviot. In 1833 there were about 200 

 ewes. The number of sheep nov/ annually fattened is about 1000, there being 

 at present about 200 ewes and 760 Cheviot wethers. The wethers are pur- 

 chased in September or October, and generally sold in March. Oilcake is 

 occasionally given, rather to lengthen out the turnip than with the expectation 

 of payment for the cake. Mr. Handyside, however, prefers giving cake to 

 sheep rather than to cattle. The usual price obtained lor keep is 8<i. per 

 •week per head. The sheep are folded, receiving additional space twice a 

 week. Ewes are kept, half-bred Leicester and Cheviot. These are bought 

 in autumn, generally the middle of September ; the lambs and ewes are 

 fattened, and sold to the butcher during spring and summer. The ewes cost, 

 average price, about 30s., this year 34s. Last year, ewe and lamb with 

 fleece were sold at 60s., much below their value, being sold early. 



Mr. Handyside used last season about 4000 stones of hay in fattening 

 cattle, but he is so satisfied that this auxiliary does not pay, that he will not 

 again employ it, except in extreme cases. 



Pigs are kept. About 30 are sold annually at 30s. each. 



The number of horses kept for the first six years of Mr. Handyside's 

 occupancy was 23. The number now required is 19. This number is kept 

 up by breeding, two being reared annually. Mr. Handyside's manner of 

 feeding is to give during winter 2 feeds of oats, weighing each A!^ lbs. ; in 

 spring 2 lbs, additional, with beans, are allowed. A feed of boiled food is 

 given at night. This consists of two parts potatoes, and one of Swedish turnip, 

 mixed up with wheat-chaff. The weight of roots allowed to each horse is 

 28 lbs. 5 the fodder during winter is straw, in spring 16 lbs. of hay are 

 allowed, Mr. Handyside has continued this system of feeding for 30 years. 



The number of cows kept for the tenants' use is 2, for that of the hinds 7. 

 The rest of the ploughmen receive 5z. in lieu of a cow's keep. 



The number of yearly servants paid in kind is 11, with 4 paid weekly 

 wages, 10s. per week ; lOcZ, per day is paid to out-workers. The sum 

 annually expended for out-woikers and extra labourers is above 400/. 

 Harvest wages 120Z, ; harvest food about 70/. 



West Fenton was taken in 1822, at an annual rent of 1220/., the tenant 

 becoming bound to expend 1000/. on dwelling-house, steading, &c. Upwards 

 of 1200/. were thus expended. In 1835 the rent, 1220/., was converted into 

 370 qrs. of wheat, payable by the second fiai-s prices, and the lease extended. 

 The present rent is also in wheat, and is between 15 and 20 per cent, above 

 the rent of 1835. The annual public burdens are, statute labour about 14/.; 

 poor-rates under 20/. 



