18G Report on some features of Scottish Agricultwe. 
soon enougli for autumn sowing, wheat is not got in until spring. 
Top-dressing is not often practised, for land that has been well 
manured for the preceding green crop is regarded as Ijeing 
already in a sufficiently high condition. 
Seeds. — The general mixture of seeds for pasturing is 1 
bushel of perennial ryegrass, ^ bushel of Italian ryegrass, and 
7 or 8 lbs. of mixed clovers, containing alsike white clover and 
cowgrass with a little trefoil. Red clover is not sown for pas- 
turing ; but on the land under a four-course rotation it is sown 
to the exclusion of any other clover-seed, the mixture being 
bushel of perennial and Italian ryegrass and 8 lbs. of red clover. 
In either case the seeds are sown about the first week in April. 
Beans. — When beans are taken instead of seeds the wheat- 
stubble gets a light dunging in autumn, or during a favourable 
time in winter ; and it is ploughed with a 7-inch furrow when it 
is in fit condition, being mostly heavy land. There is seldom 
time for drilling beans in spring. The seed is sown broadcoast 
on the furrows, about the beginning of March if possible, 
and is immediately covered by harrowing; and the crop is cut 
with a reaping-machine. 
Dairy Coios. — The most of the grass is eaten by Ayrshire 
cows in summer. Twenty-five are kept on Friarland. They 
are let in what is called a howiruj in the dairy districts of Scotland. 
The cattle, the food, the dairy furnishings, and other things 
required for the management, are supplied by the farmer. The 
bower does the work, disposes of the produce, and pays a stipu- 
lated rent for each cow. In addition to hay and oat-straw, 
stated quantities of bean-meal and turnips are given as winter 
food. Young grass is brought forward by top-dressings for 
cutting early in summer, and clover and tares are used as 
auxiliary food farther on in the season. When grass begins to 
fail in autumn, cabbages or soft turnips come in. It is con- 
sidered profitable to feed well all the year round. 
About forty cows are kept on Holmston. They are not let, 
and, of course, their auxiliary food may be varied as price and 
other circumstances may make it expedient to do so. The cows 
have generally a good bite of grass about the middle of April. 
The seeds come early, and the growth is quickened by a top- 
dressing of guano, which, unfortunately, is now becoming too dear 
for profitable application. With his light land, Mr. Drennan is 
inclined to depend more upon a liberal use of raw half-inch bones 
in the root-course for sustaining growth throughout the rotation. 
During the greater part of the year the whole of the milk is 
churned. The butter is sent to Glasgow, and the butter-milk 
is retailed in Ayr. But part of the milk is made into cheese for 
three months in summer, at the time when milk has its highest 
