1S2 Report on some features of Scottish Agriculture. 
essentially a dairy farm, and consists of about 122 acres of land 
under rotation, and 28 acres of permanent grass, 21 of which 
have been laid down within the last ten years. 
The light land at Holmston is farmed on the five-course shift 
prevalent in the district, viz., oats, roots, wheat, and seeds for 
two years ; the seeds are all pastured, and sometimes on the 
weaker land potatoes are taken on the ley instead of oats : they 
are succeeded by roots, and the remainder of the rotation follows 
in the usual order. The heavier land at Holmston is worked on 
a four-course shift, oats being taken after seeds and wheat after 
turnips ; but sometimes beans are taken instead of seeds, so as to 
double the interval between the clover-crops. 
Friarland being held chiefly as a dair^-farm, the ordinary five- 
course shift is extended for the purpose of allowing the seeds to 
remain three years instead of two. They are mostly cut the first 
year, and entirely pastured the two following seasons. 
Oats. — Ley-ploughing is done between New Year's Day and 
the middle of March, as opportunities may offer ; a good har- 
rowing is then given, and the seed is drilled, if possible. But in 
a fickle season, when time is precious, the broadcast sower is used 
as being more expeditious. Finlay oats are generally sown by 
Mr. Drennan, as well as by most farmers in the west of Scotland, 
though they are not liked in the Lothians and other eastern dis- 
tricts north of the border ; but the western farmers possess the 
confidence which is bred by experience, and although they have 
often tried other kinds, they have invariably gone back to their 
old and valued servant. The Finlay is a white oat, a little later 
than the potato, being also longer and thinner, and consequently 
lighter ; but the great point is that it stands the wet climate of 
the west better than any sort that has been tried in its stead. It 
is preferred to finish oat-sowing by the end of March, if possible ; 
and the quantity of seed used is 3^ bushels per acre by the broad- 
cast machine, and about half a bushel less by the drill. 
Roots. Autumn Cultivation. — As soon as harvest is over the 
oatstubble is grubbed two or three times. The first time it is 
merely scarified to the depth of about 4 inches, and when the 
land is dry enough it is grubbed deeper : sometimes it is gone 
over a third time, but both the second and the third grubbing 
are done with a Finlayson drag as deep as four horses will work. 
The plough follows about November, and it is liked to give 
a well-turned furrow of 9 inches or thereabf)uts with Fowler's 
double-furrow plough. Some of the heavy land may not receive 
the autumn cultivation just described, which is exceptional in 
Scotland, though it is practised to a considerable extent in the 
early district near Ayr ; but if the season will not permit it, 
the farmer has to be content with giving a single ploughing. 
