100 



Agriculture of Scotland. 



ties in Scotland have, from the effects of draining and shelter, and 

 these not very perfect, acquired an earlier maturity of at least ten 

 days in average years.* 



The reproductive powers of the improved system of agricul- 

 ture, in comparison with that effected by the method of treatment 

 pursued at the beginning of this inquiry, is no less conspicuous, 

 and is also worthy of notice. Take, for example, the case of a 

 farm of 100 acres, after the fashion of 1784, under its rotation of 

 1st, fallow; 2nd, wheat; 3d, barley; 4th, oats; 5th, pease; and 

 similar land, now under a system of 1st, turnips ; 2nd, barley 

 or wheat ; 3d, clover (hay) ; 4th, pasture ; 5th, oats ; and esti- 

 mating the weight of straw of the crops of both periods alike at 

 3 cwt. per qr., according to the estimated produce stated above, 

 we appear to be justified in adopting the following result : — 



Tons. 



Crop of 1784 .... 80 acres grain, 4 qrs. per acre \ 



320 qrs. at 3 cwt. per qr. j * 



Tons. 



Crop of 1837 . . 40 acres grain, 5 J qrs. per acre \ 



220 qrs. at 3 cwt. per qr. J ' * 

 20 acres hay, 30 cwt. per acre . . . 30 

 20 do. turnips, 20 tons, do. . . . 400 



463 



Difference in materials for manure 415 



Thus, without taking into account the greatly less quantity of straw 

 disposable for dung in the former case, from the want of other 

 fodder, we have an increase of reproductive materials equal to 

 nearly ten times the amount of the first period. 



In estimating the total quantity and value of agricultural produce 

 in Scotland, Mr. M'Culloch,f in his Statistical Account of the 

 British Empire, gives a sketch of the distribution of land" at 

 the present time, compared with that afforded by the General 

 Report of Scotland (published in 1814), and thus states the 

 matter : — 



"This is a subject as to which the real information at our command 

 is as limited, in respect of Scotland, as of the other divisions of the em- 

 pire. According to the statistical tables in the General Report of Scot- 

 land, the arable land is estimated at 5,043,450 English acres. Of these 

 the proportion in grass is estimated at 2,489,725, leaving 2,553,725 in 

 tillage, which is supposed to be distributed as follows : — 



* See p. 34. 



t Vol.i. p. 537. 



