lt)8 Report on some features of Scottish Agriculture. 
is always subordinate to one principle, viz., to maintain a cer- 
tain proportion between the various crops. At present, two 
courses are pursued : the first, which is the general course in 
East Lothian, on two-thirds of the arable land, and the second on 
the remainder : — 
No. I. 
1. Seeds. 
2. Oats. 
3. Potatoes or Beans. 
4. Wheat. 
5. Turnips. 
6. Barley. 
In addition to the change which can thus be made by allowing 
the seeds to remain a second year, instead of taking a crop of 
oats, another alterative has been resorted to. Every field on the 
farm, with the exception of one, has once, but generally twice, 
been under potatoes after turnips, followed by wheat, and after- 
Avards by seeds. This course was adopted in the first instance 
because the farm was literally overrun with wild oats ; indeed, 
Mr. Hope once found it necessary to take three green crops in 
succession, for the purpose of cleaning a field. The potatoes 
taken after turnips perhaps scarcely yield so large a crop as those 
taken in the ordinary course and dressed with farmyard-manure ; 
but this depends mainly on the proportion of turnips consumed 
on the land by sheep, also on the allowance of linseed cake they 
have received, and the state of the weather when the sheep 
were folded on the land. The succeeding wheat crop is invariably 
excellent, while the seeds, particularly the red clover, grov>r 
with a vigour unexampled after any other preparation. One 
30-acre field of grass, which had been three times subjected 
to this cleaning process, carried more stock last year than any 
60 acres on the farm. 
Ceops. 
1. Oats. — A strong furrow is now preferred for oats, although 
for many years Mr. Hope ploughed shallow. The ley is 
ploughed by steam, to the depth of 9 or 10 inches, in December 
or January, and the oats are sown in February if possible. 
Several experiments have been made on the farm in reference to 
the quantity of oats which it is most desirable to sow, and it has 
been found that about two bushels per imperial acre will 
generally give the best result, taking quantity and quality 
together. If the seed is sown too thin, there is lack of quality, 
and with too thick sowing the quantity is deficient. About nine 
1. Seeds) ^ J 
2. SeedsjP^^'"''"'^- 
3. Potatoes. 
4. Wheat. 
5. Turnips. 
6. Barley. 
