AijTwuUure of Scotland. 



73 



on somewhat similar terms. The Carse of Gowrie rents we find 

 stated about this time at 20.9. to 27 s. per Scots acre, though it is 

 added, the Latest leases go from 40.y. to 45&'." In Fife, the best 

 lands appear to have brought 25s. to 27s., but this rent was limited 

 to a very few farms on the shore, for agriculture had hitherto made 

 comparatively short progress in this county. With regard to the rent 

 of sheep-farms, then, as at present, these were not taken by mea- 

 surement, but according to a computation as to the number of 

 sheep they would maintain, other circumstances of soil and 

 shelter being considered; and the ordinary rent at that time, 

 on the South Border at least, was from 2s. &d. to 3,9. and 3s. 6c?., 

 for each sheep which it was calculated the land would keep. 



In this sketch it will be observed that we have not adverted to 

 other districts, where the value of land may have been, in some 

 instances, higher, and where agricultural improvements may have 

 partially made equally great progress at this time, as our object 

 has been more to afford data by which a comparative estimate 

 may be made in after-times of the rent of the best description 

 of arable land in different localities, than to make the vain attempt 

 to exhibit either the variation of rent payable for each description 

 of land, or to show the distinctions which existed in different 

 quarters. But it will be found in general that we have endea- 

 voured to collect the instances given from those districts where 

 agriculture at the time had been most extensively practised. It 

 may be here mentioned, that in such districts the occupations were 

 now becoming frequently very large, and many arable farms ex- 

 tended to 800 or 1 200 acres, ordinary possessions varying from 

 300 to 500 acres. A few tenants held more than one of such 

 farms, but in general this practice was not so common, nor were 

 the farms so generally extensive, as at the present time. 



Produce. — It can scarcely be expected that, at this distance of 

 time, we should be able to afford a very accurate account of the 

 annual produce of the different varieties of crops. There are two cir- 

 cumstances especially which operate materially against arriving at 

 a just conclusion on this subject, one of which maybe said to pre- 

 vail at all times, viz., that partiality with which improvers are 

 generally led to regard their own work, by which they are inckiced 

 to select a favourable instance for their illustrations : the other 

 arising from the indistinctness of quantity which obtains, as, in the 

 statement of the produce in different districts, the measures of 

 capacity, though varying in different localities, are seldom, there is 

 reason to believe, sufficiently distinguished. The former circum- 

 stance we have been led to assume as having place in a great 

 number of the estimates of produce which have come down to us, 

 in consequence of these being in general so large, though no 



