Farming of East Lotldan. 



321 



repair is under 5/. annually. The expense of threshing and dressing- grain 

 for market is computed for wheat at \s. Ad. per quarter ; oats, Qd. ; and barley, 

 Is. per quarter. 



Greendykes. 



Greendykes, occupied by Mr. Archibald Cuthbertson, extent 434 acres. 

 On the 20th November there were being fattened 67 cattle, half-bred short- 

 horns, reared in England ; average price, when purchased in September, fully 

 18/,* Also 500 half-bred wethers, a cross between the Leicester and Cheviot, 

 and 140 black-faced wethers. Mr. C. always purchases cattle well forward 

 in condition, sometimes nearly fat, and changes two, three, and even occasion- 

 ally four, times during the season. He considers that, when the cattle leave 

 5s. per week for keep, he is paid; average payment hitherto fully 6s. The 

 average payment of sheep on turnip is 9d., on grass Qd. Mr. C. now seldom uses 

 cake or corn, except to finish off the cattle. When cake is allowed, 6 lbs, are 

 given. He is of opinion that cake, when given, should never be continued 

 beyond from two to three months, and not less than six weeks. The same rule 

 he finds to apply in changing cattle from turnip to grass, and vice versa ; as 

 with entire change cattle, for the first three wrecks, usually lose condition. 

 Mr. C.'s average payment from turnip for several years, whether consumed by 

 cattle or sheep, is nearly 8/. per acre. One-fourth of the farm is generally 

 under turnip, and, from the soil being a stiff clay resting on the coal formation, 

 this has only been rendered practicable by thorough-draining, liming, and the 

 liberal application of guano. The distance of the drains is 18 feet, the depth 

 from 24 to 42 inches. Mr. C. finds that, with the 24-inch drains, the land is 

 sooner dry after heavy falls of rain. For the last ten years the turnip break 

 has not been ploughed in spring : by avoiding ploughing in spring, a fine tilth 

 is always secured, and generally the crop braids well, and produces great 

 weights. For the last fifteen years barley is generally taken after grass, in 

 place of oats, and, with guano, great crops are produced. About 40 tons of 

 guano are used yearly ; last year 5 to 6 tons of cake. Average produce of 

 wheat crop, 40 bushels ; barley, 68 ; oats, 70 ; beans, 37. The whole manage- 

 ment is very superior. 



Markxe. 



Markle, occupied by Mr. Wm. Christie, extent 551 acres, waste about 30 acres, 

 resting part on the red sandstone and part trap-rock — most of the farm a some- 

 what stiif clay. This, generally considered the best inland farm in the county, 

 was let in 1852 on a 21 years' lease, at 417 quarters of wheat, second fiars, and 

 405/. in money, being a rise of about 5s, an acre over the previous rent, and 

 being about double the rent paid by Mr. Brown during the average of his two 

 leases. This farm produces the finest quality of grain, and is also celebrated 

 for its feeding properties. Fully one-third of this year's wheat crop is already 

 threshed and sold for seed; average price from 76s. up to 90s. per quarter; average 

 crop this year about 37 bushels per acre ; average weight from 63 J to 64 lbs. ; 

 highest weight in any season 65 lbs. Average produce of wheat for the last six 

 years, 39 bushels ; barley, 52 ; oats, 58 ; beans, 32 ; potatoes, 8 tons. The 

 land is grazed two years ; average payment of grass, besides keeping 19 farm- 

 horses and 10 cows, 55s. The sheep kept are half-bred ewes; average price 

 about 30s. ; this year 34s. Last season 120 ewes produced as follows : — for 

 wool, 35/. ; 20 lambs at 28s., 50 at 25s,, 120 at '12s. ; ewes sold fat at an 

 advance of 4s. ; in all, deducting 3/. 8s. for 2 ewes that died, 32/. 2s. Besides 

 these, hoggets are generally grazed : obtained for their wool last year, 60/. — • 



* This price must not be taken as anything like the average price paid for lean 

 stock brought to the county ; the average price certainly does not much exceed 

 9/, per head. This year, from the high price of lean stock, and the deficiency of 

 the turnip crop, more than the usual number of year-olds have been purchased. 



