Agriculture of Scotland. 



89 



We now proceed to bring down the survey to tlie present time,* 

 and^ it is presumed^ w^e shall — after the description whicli has 

 already been attempted to be given of Scotch agriculture, in 

 surveying its progress — best perform the task (so far as the 

 general view is concerned) of describing the system of husbandry 

 which at present obtains, by now noting only the chief improve- 

 ments which have been introduced since the close of the period 

 last under review. But before doing so it will be right to take a 

 general glance of the position which it now occupied, and the chief 

 events which characterised its progress. 



It may be observed, then, that this last period throughout is pe- 

 culiarly marked by the greater intelligence which came to be ap- 

 jilied to the pursuit of agriculture. The desire for correct inform- 

 ation, which at the close of the former period began more ge- 

 nerally to prevail, was early gratified by the publication of many 

 useful works upon husbandry, and accounts of the improved prac- 

 tice which so generally obtained. Among them deserve to be 

 particularly distinguished the vast amount of statistical information 

 connected with the agriculture of Scotland, and the accurate de- 

 scription of the prevalent systems, collected and systematically ar- 

 ranged, under the patronage and direction of the Board of Agri- 

 culture, by the indefatigable exertions of its amiable and persever- 

 ing president. Sir John Sinclair. These were mainly instrumental 

 in diffusing the knowledge of better practice, and powerfully con- 

 tributed to dispel prejudices in quarters where they were known 

 to be most obstinate. The Highland Society too continued to 

 extend the offer of its premiums to subjects connected with the ge- 

 neral agriculture of the country ; but it was not until a subsequent 

 period of this epoch, and after the unfortunate dissolution of the 

 national board, that the former became so conspicuously the pa- 

 trons of the farmer. Still the exertions of this patriotic society, 

 now embracing in the list of its members all the opulent and 

 powerful throughout the country, and spreading its ramifications 

 w^herever a desire for encouragement was expressed, even at this 

 tim.e, did not fail to act powerfully upon a class, now so anxious to 

 profit by the spread of additional information. The majority of 

 large farmers were now men who had received a liberal edu- 

 cation, and were many of them distinguished by that spirit of 



* It has been thought best to include the whole of this time in one 

 epoch; for, although, durins; the earlier part of it, agriculture received a 

 check in its resources, which was attended in many instances by individual 

 suffering, and in all, it is believed, by no financial addition, \{s progress 

 was in noways paralysed ; on the contrary, there is reason to suppose 

 the very difficulties it had 1o encounter were no greater on the whole than 

 excited to new enterprise and tended to the development of further im- 

 provement* _ 



