1813.] Agriculture in Berwickshire, 2G1 



arable land on the coast. The Merse comprehends the greater 

 part of the low lands : Lammermuir is a ridge of hills on the 

 north side of the Merse. It is to the Merse, and the two 

 smaller districti., that we propose to confine ourselves ; in which 

 agriculture has made such wonderful progress during the last 

 half century. It is not, however, to detail the practice of every 

 farmer, hut merely to give a concise view of the practice of 

 those who are considered as the most judicious agriculturists. 



In order to enable the reader to compare the climate of Ber- 

 wickshire with counties situated far to tiie north or south, some 

 account would be proper of the state of the barometer and 

 thermometer ; of the winds which prevail ; and of the quantity 

 of rain which falls during the year. But it is not usual with 

 farmers to keep meteorological tables. One important observa- 

 tion, however, ought not to be omitted. It appears from 

 records, and indeed from the recollection of old persons still 

 alive, that intermitting fevers were formerly common every 

 season. Such a disease at present is scarcely known. This 

 salutary change is justly ascribed to draining. 



Soil. — The soil of the lower parts of Berwickshire is very 

 properly divided by farmers into two sorts, close-Oottomed and 

 open-lottomed. The close-bottomed soil is generally clay, and 

 is so denominated because the under-soil is so stiif and adhesive 

 that rain cannot penetrate. Consequently, the rain water, unless 

 removed by drains, floods the surface of flat or hollow ground. 

 The open-bottomed land is generally loam, and is so called be- 

 cause the under-soil acts as a sieve, and thus carries oif the 

 superfluous moisture. Of these two species of soils, the clay 

 and the loam, there are considerable varieties. There is clay; 

 clay and loam mixed in difl^erent proportions ; and loam blended 

 with more or less sand or gravel. 



Object OF Farmers. — ^The object of the Berwickshire 

 farmer is to raise as much grain as possible, and of that kind 

 which is most profitable and suited to his soil. But to produce 

 good crops of corn, manure is necessary ; and the best and 

 cheapest is produced by cattle. For this purpose, he keeps as 

 many cattle as he can feed plentifully. Again, experience de- 

 clares that by extending his views to cattle, as well as to corn, 

 he can calculate his profits with much more certainty ; for it 

 often happens that when corn is cheap cattle are dear, and when 

 cattle are cheap corn is dear. He can increase either the 

 one or the other, as circumstances require. Accordingly, every 

 judicious farmer preserves a proper equilibrium between his coru 

 and his cattle 



Size of Inclosures. — All farms in the Merse are incloicd, 

 and subdivided into fields, which generally bear a certain propor- 

 tion to the size of the farm, ^ome prefer large inclosures^ 



