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Agriculture of the Scilly Isles. 
Economic Features. 
Farms and Fields, Fences and Roads. — The farms of Scilly 
are small. On St. Mary's they vary from 5 to 15 acres. One is 
said to be 30 acres, but this includes a large breadth of untilled 
down. On the off-islands they are still smaller, there being 
many of about 3 acres. On St. Agnes the largest is 12 acres. 
The fields on St. Mary's contain, upon an average, about 1 acre. 
They vary in size from 1 rood to 3 acres. On the off-islands, 
again, they are proportionally smaller. 
The fields are divided by walls of granite, which consist of 
rough blocks piled up without mortar, and often topped with 
sods. The fence is made more perfect in some cases by the 
addition of furze, planted on one or both sides. The gateways 
are narrow. Blocks of granite answer the purpose of gateposts, 
one block being occasionally used for the support of the two 
gates of adjoining fields. A curious substitute for the ordinary 
stile is often adopted. Where the stile is usually placed a large 
hole is dug, across which are laid blocks of granite to form step- 
ping stones for pedestrians. Cattle and sheep do not attempt the 
passage. For greater security an additional block is frequently 
set upon the middle one, thus making a stile in miniature. The 
roads are mended with granite. The majority are smooth and 
good, but some are rendered rough by the cropping out of the 
subjacent granite. There is a pleasing absence of mud and dirt. 
Farm Buildings, Cottages. — Farm buildings are insignificant ; 
and cottages, though of good construction, are not sufficiently 
numerous. Most of the latter are built of granite. Of the former, 
some are of granite, some of wood. Thatched and slated roofs 
are common in both. Tiles are more sparingly used. Thatch 
is tied down with ropes of rye or oat straw. The ropes are 
fastened to pegs, which are driven in under the wall-plate. On 
St. Martin's we saw one set of tolerably conspicuous farm build- 
ings, but a nearer approach revealed sheds without roofs, and 
walls half fallen. Still, there were well built stacks on stone 
steddles, a well filled stackyard, decent stabling, and good 
calves' house — all characteristic of the largest farmer on St. 
Martin's. 
Implements. — Implements are neither numerous nor of the 
best construction. Light iron ploughs, drawn by one horse, iron 
cultivators, and small one-horse carts are ordinarily used. For 
the conveyance of seaweed a wooden framework in the shape of 
a W, the middle part fitting on to a horse's back, is employed. 
There are several small thrashing machines on the islands ; 
and yet we found, one morning, a man thrashing wheat by 
beating it upon a barrel. Winnowing, too, is still done on a 
