Report on some features of Scottish Agriculture. 155 
clear that the natural advantages which have been referred to 
require to be turned to the best possible account to enable the 
tenant to obtain a profit after paying a rent which averages 
nearly hi. per imperial acre. From this point of view, it is hoped 
that the following description of Mr. Murray's farming operations 
will be invested with considerable interest. The appearance of 
the farm, which must be seen to be appreciated, bears evidence 
of the most studied and careful management, the most thorough 
and even fastidious neatness and cleanliness ; and it shows 
that, great as is the annual expenditure as rent, the item 
of labour must also be very large in comparison with the 
acreage. 
The following shift is adopted instead of the ordinary six- 
course that is most prevalent in the Lothians, partly in conse- 
quence of the absence of permanent pasture, and partly on 
account of the importance of the potato-crop : — • 
1. Turnips. 
2. Barley (occasionally a little wheat) with seeds. 
3. Seeds — a part mown, and part grazed. 
4. Seeds — grazed. 
5. Half oats and half potatoes. 
6. Potatoes after oats, and pulse after potatoes. 
7. Wheat. 
The pulse in the sixth year, after potatoes in the fifth, consists 
of beans on the stronger land, and of a mixture of beans and peas 
on the lighter. As a rule, therefore, the farm is annually divided 
as follows : — one-seventh turnips, one-seventh potatoes, two- 
sevenths seeds, two-sevenths wheat and barley, and the remaining 
seventh is equally divided between oats and pulse. The stronger 
land breaks consist of about 65 acres each, and the lighter land 
fields of about 70. The former yield as much as the latter, and 
require as much labour, so that the division is fair in each aspect. 
Crops. 
1. Roots. — The wheat-stubble is ploughed from 7 to 9 inches 
deep, according to the land, when convenient during the autumn ; 
it IS then left until after the spring corn has been sown — generally 
until the middle or end of April, when it is ploughed along the 
previous ridges. Occasionally cross-ploughing is adopted, but 
not often. In dry weather, the harrow follows immediately after 
the plough, to keep the moisture in the soil ; and the land is 
rolled as soon as the surface is dry enough for a roller to work 
clean. In the interval between the time of ploughing, harrow- 
ing, and rolling the land and the preparation of the seed-bed — 
