320 



Farming of East Lothian, 



depastured. The whole grass-land, with the exception of about 20 acres, is 

 ploughed up the first year for oats ; the grass kept for two years being only 

 retained for the use of the ewe stock, it being found that two years' grazing 

 does not generally improve the after crops. The whole grass is top-dressed 

 with 84 lbs. of nitrate of soda and 170 lbs. of Peruvian guano per acre ; without 

 nitrate about 3 cwt. are applied. The oat-crop follows; the land is ploughed 

 in December and January, the oats sown in the end of February or beginning 

 of March, but February is preferred if the weather admits of sowing. The 

 variety principally grown is the potato-oat. The average produce per acre is 

 66 bushels ; the weight per bushel of the potato is 44 lbs., of the Flemish 42 

 lbs. per bushel. 



Where barley or wheat is sown in spring after the turnip, the grass-seeds 

 are sown and hoed in. The Fenton wheat is found to answer equally well 

 sown in spring or autumn. The variety of barley grown is the Cheva- 

 lier. The average produce of barley is 52 bushels ; the weight per bushel 

 varies from 56 to 57 lbs. ; the highest weight ever grown was 58 lbs. 



The bean-crop, when grown, is taken after oats. About 15 tons of dung 

 are applied in the drill at the same time ; along with this about 3 cwt. of 

 guano are given per acre. Formerly very small crops of beans were grown, 

 but for the last three years the average produce has been about 38 bushels, the 

 average weight being about 66 lbs. The variety is a small English bean. 



The sum annually expended on manures, chiefly portable, is about 800/. 

 In this sum is included 30s. for each ton of cake or corn consumed by feeding 

 stock. Peruvian guano is most esteemed. Last year upwards of 60 tons were 

 applied to the farm. Mr. Hope is of opinion that, unless portable manures are 

 applied at the rate of II. per acre over the whole jarm^ he could not continue to 

 farm with a profit. In 1836 the sum spent on portable manures was 150/. 

 annually, the manure being rape-dust. 



Although the farm is almost a square, and intersected with public roads, 

 which give easy access to most of the fields, yet, from there having been 

 originally two farms, the farm offices on both are retained. At each steading 

 there is a fixed steam-engine, with threshing-machine. Servants and horses 

 are kept at each steading. There are also courts for cattle. 



The number of horses employed is twenty, being nine ploughs and two horses 

 for orra work. A horse and gig-horse are kept for the farmer's use. The horses 

 are generally bred on the farm. When any are purchased they are obtained 

 at two years old. The feeding during winter is 15 lbs. of oats daily for each 

 horse ; the oats are given bruised. The fodder is straw in spring, and for 

 one m.onth in autumn. During summer half the quantity of oats is allowed. 

 The young horses are turned out to graze during summer, the older horses 

 performing all the necessary labour. 



The number of cows kept is 17, 4 for the tenants' use ; a few calves being 

 reared. The number of cows belonging to the farm labourers is 13. Mr. 

 Hope considers that a cow is of the greatest possible benefit to the family 

 of a labourer. The cows are grazed on the farm, and kept on straw during 

 the winter months. Two cart-loads of turnip are allowed to each. 



Farm Labourers. — Of these 14 are yearly servants. They are paid in 

 kind. The half of the oats is guaranteed to be not less in price than 26s. 8c?. 

 per quarter. They receive in addition 2/. in money, and half a boll of wheat. 

 They pay for their house and garden on an average 25s. yearl3^ Outworkers 

 are paid 10c?. per day ; during potato-lifting they receive Is. The average 

 time of working is about 9 hours ; during summer the time is 9^ hours. 

 The sum paid for outworkers and labourers engaged by the week is about 400/. 

 Harvest expenses, with food, are yearly about 200/. A Bell's Reaper was 

 employed this season. For tradesmen's accounts about 100/. ; public burdens, 

 40/. annually. The expense of keeping both engines, with threshing mills, in 



