FARMING
A General View of the Agriculture of the County of Midlothian
Agricultural Sketch of Midlothian ©
Cottages
Were formerly very mean; the walls built of mud and stone, would have been unable to sustain the ponderous roof of thatch and divot, had they not been very low and well propped up with very clumsy buttresses of unhewn stone. The inside was still more exceptionable. The lumm, or chimney aspect, erected against the end wall, by its unaccountable width, took up a great proportion of the hut. While this was intended to give a free passage to the smoke, which it generally failed to accomplish, on the other hand it served to admit a great deal of rain. An additional light to that of the chimney, from a slit or hole in the wall, made up the whole architecture of the building. At present, cottages are constructed of good mason work, seven or eight feet high in the walls, and neatly thatched with straw: in some cases with a ceiling, and timber floor; a refinement, which in the present spirit for convenience and embellishment, is likely to become more general. The size 16 or 18 feet square, which is found to hold the furniture commodiously. They are generally built at a distance of 100 or 150 yards from the farmhouse, several of them together in a row.
The expense of erection is about 10 l.(£) to 15l. (£) each, and the rent 20s. or 25s.
The rate of building is a rood (36 sq. yds.) of mason work 25s. plus materials. Tiles 40s the 1,000, a rood of tile work 10s. plus the materials. Timber (Fir), 1s., 1s 3d. and 1s.6d. a cubic foot, according to the quality. Lime 1s.2d. a boll in town; at the kiln 9d. Adjoining these they have commonly a piece of ground, of two or three falls, (36 sq. yds. each).
The cottage furniture consists in general of two beds, a few chairs or stools, table, chest of drawers, clothes press, & c. They are all ambitious of having a timepiece, if it were only a cuckoo-clock. The whole may be worth 10l. (£) to 12l (£).
Oatmeal forms the basis, or principal part of their sustenance. They have it regularly to breakfast and supper, made into pottage, which they eat, with a small allowance of buttermilk. At dinner they eat it in bread, in addition to their kail; a kind of soup made of barley broth, intermixed with greens and other pot herbs. To this they add at times potatoes, and fish of different kinds; seldom wheat bread and still more rarely butchers meat. This mode of living, in which, although there is no great variety there is always an abundance of food. It seems to be very comfortable to the natural constitution of the people, as they are found to go through their labour without feeling themselves fatigued, and enjoy a state of health, which is very seldom interrupted. At an average they are not above two days sick in a year.
Clothing for the most part being bought in Edinburgh, where there is to be had a great variety of stuff suitable to their circumstances, cheap and strong, also decent and becoming. In their Sunday dress they make a very good appearance, and even pay attention to the fashion.
The Sunday dress of a young ploughman consists generally of a coat of blue cloth, at 5s 6d the yard; velveret vest, corduroy breeches, white cotton stockings, calf-skin shoes with black silk shoe knots, shirt with ruffles at the breast, and a white muslin fringed cravat, hat worth 8s. or 10s. The shoe knots and ruffles are indeed rather uncommon, but all the other articles are very much in use.The old men still retain the blue bonnet, especially when they are in full dress. In the moorlands, where some old farmers still use this ancient ornament, they wear a black bonnet to distinguish them from their servants.
Servants
The country servants maintain a decent, orderly behaviour. The Sabbath with them is truly a day of devotion. Almost no weather, can keep them from church, clothed in their best array; which, considering their wages, is wonderfully good. During the remainder of the day they keep themselves at home, reading their bibles; or, in many instances, they join together in family worship. The frequenting of taverns on a Sunday is almost unheard of among them; hence, instead of that languor and sickness which prevents many a poor mechanic from earning his Monday's wage; that day, on the contrary, to the farmer, is the most profitable. His servants work with more alacrity and vigour than on any other day in the week. They have always, besides, been laudably ambitious of giving their children a decent education, and would be ashamed if they could not at least read the English language. School Fees here are indeed extremely moderate. Reading is taught for 1s.4d the quarter, (in which the children of labourers are in many instances instructed), writing and arithmetic at 2s.6d.
Popular superstitions have almost all disappeared, witches and fairies have wholly disappeared: the dead knack is now heard only by a few old women, who get very little credit for the discovery: while Spunkie (Will o' the Wisp), is almost banished from the country for want of bogs and swamps.
They still however retain a great predeliction for the custom of antiquity, particularly on the occasion of a marriage or christening. At which the entertainment provided, and the various ceremonies observed are conducted on a regular system of etiquette. They have not only a best man and best maid, but even a master of ceremonies, (Master Household, as he is called), whose business it is to see that the company, be properly arranged at dinner and who is commonly some facetious tailor, as a good deal depends on the humorous disposition of this office bearer. Of all our ancient customs none has maintained its ground so well as the practise of penny weddings for the behoof of the country servants, as it accords not only with a proper regard towards them, but with the jovial inclination of the people in general, who enter into the spirit of hilarity and merriment which arise from such occasions. Still further inspired by the music and dance, which accompanies the entertainment. Proprietors as well as farmers take this method of promoting matrimony, which generally brings 10l. (£)or 12l. (£) to the newly weds. From this they are induced to behave well before marriage: while a bad servant meets with a poor contribution, a good one has been known to make 30 l (£).
Reapers
Are hired every morning in the harvest, particularly on Mondays, at the West Port of Edinburgh where they sometimes amount to thousands.
Wages are from 6d to 1s 6d. a day, and diet, which costs from 4½d to 6d: breakfast is oatmeal porridge, about a Scotch pint, with a mutchkin of buttermilk to each: dinner, a loaf of bread at 16ozs. weight, generally at 1s 3d. the dozen and half a Scotch pint of beer; supper, the same as breakfast. They work from six till six, and are allowed two hours through the day for rest. The Highlanders lie in the barns at night on straw, with a few blankets and sacks distributed among them.
Scotch Pint = 3 Imperial Pints
Mutchkin is a measure of capacity for chiefly liquids and =¼ pint Scots or ¾pint imperial
The Farmer's Mains
Consisted formerly of a set of low buildings, in the form of a square. The master himself, whose habitation was composed of two or three dismal apartments, on an earthen floor, having a low ceiling, and a few diminutive lights. On another side stood the barn, in which the roof timbers, from the idea of giving strength, were built into the wall from the foundation; the wall itself not being more than 5 feet in height. Opposite to the barn were the stables, and the byre or cow-house. The stables were totally without division, and the horses fed in common; but the neat cattle, less passive were each confined to their stakes. The cottages occupied the remaining side; in the midst of it all lay the dunghill. These buildings were made of turf and stone alternately, or with stone and clay for mortar: the roof of thatch or of thatch and divot (turf or sods) intermixed. It was also common in earlier times to have a number of these farmhouses placed together in a village. Generally in the vicinity of the Laird's house or castle, the more readily to serve for his protection or to protect one another from thieves and other bandits with which the country was infested.
Among the many improvements which have been made this century, is the improvement of the internal police of the Kingdom which has become much more effective. The bands of robbers and other vagrants have been extirpated, private property more completely protected, and the peaceful inhabitants of the country, have been able to apply themselves to their vocations in security and without alarm. *It has become no longer necessary that the whole farmers on an estate should be cooped up in the same village. They may now settle, each in the midst of his own farm, in a manner much more to the advantage of the farmer, and more favourable to the embellishment of the country.
(* This has, however, been productive of no little grief of mind to the declaimers against the present times, who never perceive anything in an alteration but that it is ruinous. They deplore the remains of the farmhouse, in the different villages, and the supposed consequent depopulation of the country; never adverting that the inhabitants are only removed to a better situation than that which they formerly enjoyed).
A young farmer although his whole fortune should not exceed (£) L100 in value, will have 50 people on horseback at his wedding, accompanying him from the bride's house to his own, perhaps 10 miles distant, at full gallop. This they call the bruize, probably from the many bruises by falls thereby occasioned.
Within the last 30 years (1765-1795) the Parish of Ratho with the exception of some small plots adjacent to the village was chiefly wasteland.
An observation on entrenchment of locals is recorded
It would be no easy matter to dispossess the common people of this country of their stations; for so attached are they to the place of their nativity, that everywhere they are the oldest residents, surpassing in this respect both proprietors and farmers. It is to be observed, (what is indeed their fault of this stationary and unambitious disposition) that they are not most expert in their particular professions.
Some of the less modern farmers, however, still retain the practise of taking two, and even three, repeated hay crops; a mode highly pernicious to the lands; whereas, on the contrary, it is well known, that taking one crop of clover only, has a great tendency to enrich and pulverise the soil and ensure a succeeding good crop of oats.
Agricultural Sketch of Midlothian Detail Showing Ratho Area ©
Land Improvements in the Ratho area. As recorded by
Mr. Dudgeon, Mr. Reid and Mr. T Macknight
The following Communication, from Mr. Dudgeon at Gogar Bank Farm. The home farm for Gogar Bank House. (Alex. Dudgeon was the tenant farmer in 1796) respecting an Improvement made on a piece of Waste Land of 10 Scotch acres in extent, is also highly deserving of notice; especially now, that the improvement of Waste Lands in general, over the kingdom, has become an object of national attention.
Original state
Not worth one shilling the acre of rent yearly.
How improved. Cleared of whins, with which it was incumbered, by the proprietor; followed by a crop of oats, which produced more than the expense previously occasioned; then lime to the value of (£) L.20 was laid upon it, when it was let at the rent of 20s. the acre. It was next summer fallowed by me, dunged and drained, to the amount of (£) L. 84 of expense more, including feed and labour.
Effect
The first crop was wheat, which produced to the extent of 121 bolls, (about 38½ bushels the English acre) which was sold at different times, and at various prices, for (£) L.153 in all, besides the straw, which was fully worth the expense of reaping, threshing, &c. Next year (1795) it was sown with oats, but these not yet being threshed, I cannot state precisely what may be the return; but the crop has the appearance of being 10 bolls the acre, (about 47½ bushels the acre English.) Further, I am now offered 30s. the acre for this field, from a respectable tenant, on a lease.
A.D.
Gogar Bank, 13th January 1796.
The following more detailed report was submitted by George Reid, of Ratho Hall, and also Ashley House.
Excepting for some spots adjacent to the villages, the parish of Ratho, within these thirty years, consisted chiefly of waste lands. The small portion of it that came under the plough being parcelled out among petty tenants, possessed of little stock, and so strongly attached to the customs of their ancestors, as rendered it a matter of no small difficulty, to introduce among them any regular system of modern husbandry. Farms, however, began, about that time, to be let upon a more extensive scale, old prejudices gradually gave way to the evident success of a better system, and men of ability and enterprise were induced to undertake what perhaps might never have been effected by the former tenants.
Since that period the improvements have been rapid and progressive. The appearance of the country has undergone a wonderful change. Instead of a continued prospect of whins and swamps, thinly interspersed with pieces of ley, exhausted with successive crops of oats, and again consigned to their natural productions, fertile fields appear regularly enclosed, sheltered, and ornamented with belts, and clumps of planting, yielding crops little inferior to the more highly manured lands around the metropolis.
The great quantity of lime applied to those lands, of which plenty is to be had in the immediate neighbourhood, has contributed in no small degree to their present fertility.
The turnip system has also found its way into this parish, and has been practised lately on the light lands in the western parts with great success; and it is to be hoped that it will farther prevail, that the lands thereby may be proportionally fertilized, for it is scarcely to be expected that the carting of manure from Edinburgh, (which has done so much nearer the town) will here become general, its distance making it by no means a lucrative concern.
The interior and eastern parts of the parish being of a stronger and deeper soil, are more adapted to the cultivation of wheat and beans, which, from their greater vicinity to Edinburgh manure, they are often enabled to bear in succession.
There is also a great proportion of the lands formerly waste, now in rich and valuable pasture,which is sometimes sown out after summer-fallow, and green crops, and pastured the first year with sheep, a practice excellently adapted to improve the soil.
Some few of the less modern farmers, however, still retain the practice of taking two, and even three, repeated hay crops; a mode highly pernicious to the lands; whereas, on the contrary, it is well known, that, taking one crop of clover only has the tendency to enrich and pulverise the soil, and ensure a succeeding good crop of oats.
According to the most accurate account I have been able to collect, the quantity of all kinds of grain brought to market thirty years ago, did not exceed 1200 bolls; whereas, from the following table of the actual state of the cultivation of the parish in the year 1795, the number of bolls for the market cannot be less than 5000.
Produce of the Parish of Ratho Crop, 1795.
| Number of acres | Average return per acre | Number of Bolls produced | Average of Fiars from 1787 to 1793 inclusive | Total value | |
| A. R. F. | B. F. P. | B. F. P. | L s d | L s d | |
| Wheat | 230 3 0 | 7 2 0 | 1730 2 2 | £1 2 6 | £1946 19 &three farthings |
| Oats | 823 3 0 | 6 0 0 | 4942 2 0 | 14 6 | £3583 6 3 |
| Barley | 296 2 0 | 6 0 0 | 1779 0 0 | 17 6 | £1556 12 6 |
| Beans & Peas | 185 2 0 | 5 2 0 | 1020 1 0 | 14 6 | £ 739 13 7&half pence |
| Turnips | 55 0 0 | 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 | 6 0 0 per acre. | £ 330 0 0 |
| Potatoes | 49 0 0 | 25 0 0 | 1225 0 0 | 0 7 0 per boll. | £ 428 15 0 |
| Hay | 193 2 0 | 150 stones | 29025 0 0 | 0 0 6 per stone. | £ 725 12 6 |
| £9310 18 11 three farthings | |||||
| Fallow | 192 0 0 | ||||
| 2026 0 0 | |||||
Which is (including fallow) at the rate of 4l (£) 12s. per acre.
N.B. There is also, not accounted for, a very considerable proportion of pasture lands, of which the produce may, at an average, be 15s. yearly, but the extent could not be accurately ascertained.
A particular kind of stone fence used in the parish, is perhaps not unworthy of notice. It is built neatly of dry stone, to the height of three feet, and in breadth about two; upon this is laid a coping of thin flat stones, projecting irregularly, and so placed as at stated distances, to admit of a stone being driven home, resembling the key-stone of an arch; thereby adding strength and permanency to the formidable qualities of the Galloway dyke, of which this is an improvement on the original plan.
A mode has lately been adopted, in regard to the reparations of the cross-roads in the parish (which, from their extent and insufficiency, the statute service-money was totally inadequate to keep in order), that is, perhaps, not undeserving of a place here, and worthy of being imitated by other parishes in similar situations.
The principal part of the expense of repairing roads consists in the carriages. The tenants, when gathering the stones from their grass lands, in place of laying them in their furrows, or putting them in some waste corner as formerly, cart now, (what are not wanted for draining) to the roads, gratis, making choice of such part of the roads as may be most advantageous to themselves, and the statute money is thus entirely applied to the breaking of them; by which means, repairs were made last year to the worth of (£) L.100, in place of (£) L.50. (the amount of the legal assessment levied in the parish).
Hence the roads are already much improved, and in place of being impassable as before, will soon be in a most respectable state.
George Reid
Ratho, 10th December 1795.
This the most detailed report was submitted by Thomas Macknight, of Ratho House.
It will not be in my power to complete the general account of my farming operations, requested by the President of the Board of Agriculture, so as to send it to you by the time limited; but feeling you are anxious to obtain at least a general idea of the expense I have incurred, and the result of the trials I have made, to improve uncultivated and unproductive land, I shall now endeavour to comply with your desire, and at the same time communicate the observations which have occurred to me upon that subject, a subject which, in my opinion, well deserves the attention of every man who wishes to promote the prosperity of his country. I shall add part of the general account requested by Sir John Sinclair, containing an accompt of the expense and returns of one field, consisting of 10 acres, which I cultivated, during a course of eight years previous to the year 1795, in the manner too frequently practised, that is to say, doing little for the land, and receiving small returns: also, I shall give an accompt of the expense I was put to in the course of the last year to cultivate this field, in a manner very different, but whether more prudent time only can determine. Be the event, however, as it may, I am willing that others should receive every possible advantage from the experiment I am making; and for that reason I offer it to the public view while it is actually carrying on, that those who are inclined may have an opportunity of examining the process, and observing the result.
To people in my situation (that is to say, without experience at the time I commenced my agricultural operations), such an account as I now offer may be agreeable, because it may enable them to form a judgment of the probable expense, and returns attending the business of farming, in which they may be fond of engaging. When I began, I entertained no doubt of its beneficial consequences; and though I was sensible an experienced farmer might carry it on, not only with more judgment, but with more economy, and therefore hope to reap more advantage from an equal quantity of stock; yet from my previous calculations I expected a profit more than sufficient to compensate the risqué I must encounter, and the time during which the capital employed must remain unproductive of any tangible advantage. Pleased, therefore, with the hope of future benefit, and happy in the meanwhile with the employment which the undertaking afforded, I carried on my speculation without any apprehensions of loss; and I continue now to carry it on without fear of losing, notwithstanding the generally received opinion, that no person in my circumstances can farm to advantage. I am far from thinking that a man who is ignorant of agriculture can manage the business of farming; but if he inclines to employ his money in that way, he may hire a skilful person to oversee his servants, and direct the necessary operations, and in that case venture to assert, from my own experience, that a less degree of attention is requisite, on his part, to secure success, than in any other speculation with which I am acquainted, where an overseer or manager is employed; and even that degree, being far from troublesome, requires little more than walking or riding about his field from time to time, an exercise which most men are fond of enjoying.
The profit to be derived from farming depends no doubt on a variety of circumstances. But so far as I can judge, nothing contributes more to render it highly advantageous than a Capital to carry it on in a liberal manner; by which I mean a stock sufficient to put the land in the highest order possible - to labour it properly - and to manure it well. For in every instance, where I have had an opportunity of observing, those farmers who fail to make money by their business, fail for want of a sufficient capital to carry it on in the most advantageous manner, rather than from any thing in the nature of the business itself, which is certainly less liable to risqué than any other with which I am acquainted.
For these reasons, I am of the opinion, that nothing can be more conducive towards promoting the agriculture of Great Britain than to shew men who are possessed of capital, that although they have no skill nor experience in agriculture, their money may be employed in farming, with as much safety, and with as much certainty of profit, as in any other speculation whatever, where they are obliged to avail themselves of the skill and experience of other people, hired for the purpose of carrying it on; and that many speculations in various branches of business, are managed in this way with great profit to the undertaker, is a thing well known; nay, in the fullness of farming itself, it is often practiced in fact; opulent farmers trusting the care of their led farms to a faithful servant, or perhaps to a partner who manages the farm.
Having advanced an opinion which I know is not generally received, and said as much in support of it, because I am convinced that it is founded upon the truth, and that were it acted upon by men possessed of capital, the agriculture of Britain would be carried on to much greater advantage than it is at the present; I shall now proceed to the business which is more immediately the purpose of this letter, and which will serve to corroborate the opinion I have advanced.
Gogar Moor lies in the parish of Ratho, nearly six miles west from Edinburgh, and about five miles distant from lime, which is sold at the kilns at 16d. the boll of shells, reckoned to produce two bolls of slacked lime, nearly equal to nine bushels, Winchester measure, per boll. This moor contains about 80 acres, and was a common belonging to the proprietors of the adjacent lands. It was very full of stones, many of which were so large, that they could not be removed without using gun-powder. It was over-run with furze, and interspersed with hollows, some of which contained water during the whole course of even a dry summer, The grass growing on this common was of little value, and I do not imagine the proprietors, or their tenants, who occupied the adjoining lands, ever derived any advantage worth the reckoning from the possession of this moor before the year 1780, about which time it was divided by mutual consent.
After the division was accomplished, Mr. John Christie (who occupied a small farm adjoining to the moor), ventured to take, upon a lease, 42 acres of this unproductive land; three years free of rent, and twenty-two years at five shillings an acre per annum. His lease commenced in the year 1781. Before I came to the neighbourhood (which was in 1787), he had obtained some crops from the part he had then improved; but from what I learned, these were far from luxuriant. After I settled in the neighbourhood, having some property in the moor, I gave particular attention to his mode of improvement, and found that his great object was to get it under the plough at the least charge possible. With this view, he was at little expense in removing stones; contenting himself with allowing road-makers and neighbours to gather such as they chose for the purpose of making roads and drains, of which he made none; neither was he at much expense in liming, or dunging. His crops accordingly, were such as might be expected from this mode of improvements. But so far as I am capable of judging, from the observations I have made in the course of the last nine years, Mr. Christie has been more than repaid the money he expended on his 42 acres, in labour, manure, and feed, together with the rent, which it has cost him in the last 15 years. There are still 10 years of his lease to run, and I can venture to assert, that he may get 20s. an acre for his part of the moor during the remainder of his tack. There is, however, much to be done before these 42 acres can be said to be improved in the manner of which they are capable. But his land lies better, and therefore, in my opinion, may be improved at less expense than the other parts of the moor; for though I am not a judge of soils, I am informed that the moor is in general pretty nearly of the same quality. Ten acres of the common became the property of Mr. Cumberland Reid; they lye between Mr. Christie’s and my part of the moor, decline to the south, and had several hollows in the surface, which rendered draining absolutely necessary to relieve it from water that formed pretty large pools after rain, till dried up by wind, or by soaking into the ground.
Mr. Reid began to improve his ten acres the year after I commenced my operations; had he led the way, I might have benefited much by following his plan. I saw that Mr. Christie had done too little, that he was too sparing of his money, and the consequence was such as might have been expected. His crops were poor. I determined to avoid his mistake, and erred on the other hand; I undertook too much; I endeavored to complete the improvement of my land principally by labour, without knowing that a little patience would have commanded the elements of air and water into my aid, and that one year’s time would have done more towards rotting the course sward of the moor after one ploughing, if covered from the drought of summer by a crop of oats, than all I could do by repeated ploughings, breakings, and harrowings, in the course of one spring.
Mr. Reid after grubbing up the whins, and making some drains through his land, ploughed with a four-horse plough, and sowed it with oats, of which he reaped a tolerably good crop; he next year began to cart dung and lime, intending to summer-fallow and sow wheat; but afterwards let this land to Mr. Dudgeon, who proceeded in the same scheme of improvement with considerable spirit, continuing to increase the number of drains, gathering of stones off the ground so far as wanted for this purpose, and filling up some of the hollows with earth where this could be easily done. He summer fallowed, dunged, and limed, and then sowed with wheat very early in the season, giving a large quantity of feed, I believe at not less than a boll per acre, and reaped in return an abundant crop, which was succeeded by another of exceedingly strong oats. In this manner Mr. Reid and Mr. Dudgeon, availing themselves of their experience and ability, have derived as great an advantage as the most sanguine mind could have expected from such an undertaking. In the course of five years they have realized a very great profit upon the stock they employed, which was completely re-imbursed in the course of two years at most, and they have reclaimed, from an unproductive state, 10 acres of land, which would now sell for a large sum of money.
I hope now to give some account of the mode I followed for improving Gogar moor, my share of which amounts to about twenty-five acres, divided into three different fields lying contiguous to each other. Two of these have been five, and the other four, years under the plough. I need not enter into the minute detail of my operations; it is sufficient to say, that after the whins and stones which lay on the surface, I ploughed as deep as possible, with an uncommonly large and strong Scotch plough, drawn by two oxen and four stout horses, attended by three men (besides the ploughman and drivers), to assist in turning over the furrow, which sometimes fell back, and to throw upon the surface the large stones loosened by the plough, which otherwise would have been buried under the next furrow. I marked the fit-fat stones discovered by the plough, and employed men to dig and raise them out of the ground with long levers armed with iron; and when they could not be got out in this manner, to bore and blow them up with gunpowder. I then drew to the sides of the fields upon flipesafter which I tried to break the sward with heavy breaks, then cross-ploughed and formed the ground into ridges about 18 feet wide, sowing it with oats: from one of these fields I took two crops in succession, the first yielded five, the second four bolls per acre. I then prepared the ground for a crop of turnips, giving a large quantity of dung. They were easily kept clean, and turned out a good crop. They were succeeded by oats, which produced more than nine bolls per acre, and have been followed by another crop of oats to all appearances as good, but they are not yet threshed. Another of these fields, after undergoing the necessary previous operations in a manner similar to that above described, produced a crop of potatoes and another of wheat, both of them bad, although the potatoes were well dunged. I have since had two crops of oats in succession tolerably good, the last, however not yet threshed.
The third field has been managed in a manner somewhat different. I ploughed it once and suffered it to lye in that state till the succeeding year, and then, after breaking and ploughing, I sowed with oats, and reaped more than six bolls per acre. The last year I again sowed with oats, and had a very good crop not yet threshed.
During the ploughing and harrowing, and in the autumn and winter, I continued to remove stones, to make drains, to level hillocks, and to fill up hollows, by carting earth into them. These operations have been performed at a very great expense, notwithstanding which, putting a fair value on the stones I obtained for roads and dykes (excluding the value of the stones employed in filling drains in these fields, from which I gathered them) and giving credit for the crops I have reaped, I do not exceed the truth, when I say the 25 acres are not in my debt. But as I have been offered a rent of more than 20s. per acre for a lease of 19 years, I consider myself as being actually a very great gainer by this speculation, because the rent alone is at least equivalent to a gain of (£) L 25 for every acre of the moor, which I have improved.
It is true, I have been at more expense hitherto than either of my neighbours, and at present have much less to show in point of return than Mr. Dudgeon; but then my ground is more effectually cleared of stones, and, comparatively speaking, in respect to what it was, is more improved than either his or Mr Christie’s, and I have reason to hope that my future crops will be obtained with proportionally less expense.
The remainder of the common, excepting about half an acre of Mr. Christie’s part, is improved also and was done by the late Dr. Kirkland, in a manner equally spirited, and as completely as that by Mr. Dudgeon, and not less profitably to himself.
Upon the whole, therefore, the improvement of Gogar moor is an incident of considerable importance in the agricultural annals of the parish of Ratho. A common containing 80 acres of unproductive land, which for ages was considered as not worth cultivation, though lying within six miles of the capital of Scotland, and within five miles of lime, has been improved in the course of 15 years so as to repay the expense of improvement, producing crops, of 12 bolls of wheat, 10 bolls of oats per acre; and every part of this moor is, in my opinion, as capable of yielding good crops, as the field which produced the above-mentioned wheat and oats.
Whether speculations of this kind are beneficial or hurtful to the undertaker, there can be no doubt that they are of advantage to the public. In this instance, 80 acres are added to the national stock of arable land, capable of yielding food for an increased population of men, constant employment is provided for as many persons as are requisite for cultivating those 80 acres; and the surplus food not necessary for the cultivators, and their labouring cattle, increases the fund of provisions necessary for maintaining the inhabitants of Britain who are employed in the manufactures. In this point of view, therefore, the improvements of waste and unproductive land is an object of the highest national importance, and well deserves the attention and encouragement of the Legislature.
The present instance, however, holds forth advantages easier to be obtained. It shows, that the cultivation of Wasteland is highly beneficial to the tenant, as well as to the proprietor. Mr. Christie’s mode of improvement shows what may be done in a course of years, at little expense. Mr. Dudgeon’s mode shews the very great advantage which a tenant may derive, in a shorter period, from the judicious and spirited application of money; what Mr. Reid has executed demonstrates the benefit of experience. And my success may serve to shew what even an unskilful proprietor may do towards increasing the value of his estate, by improving his uncultivated and unproductive land: and, notwithstanding his mode of improvement, from want of experience, want of economy, imposition of labourers, or idleness of servants, may be much more expensive than that of an attentive and judicious tenant, yet the speculation itself is so highly advantageous, that it will bear very considerable misconduct before it can become a losing adventure.
From the accompts I kept, I have made an estimate of the average expense per acre, which the improvement of my share of the Gogar moor has cost. The expense has, indeed, been very great; but that must not be wholly ascribed to mismanagement; for any person who examines the situation and surface of my part, will see that it must have been more difficult to reclaim and render arable, than any other equal quantity of the common.One of the fields above mentioned was manured with dung - another with lime - and a small part of the third got neither lime nor dung, while the remaining part was dunged. The sum, therefore, which I state for manure, must not be considered as the exact value of what was laid on any one acre, but the average value per acre of what was laid on the whole moor. The same observation must be extended to the other articles mentioned in the estimate; the expense of improving particular acres being more or less according to the quantity of whins and stones, and according as more or less draining was necessary. In respect to the returns, these also are rated after the same mode, at an average value of the produce; but as I have taken care not to under-rate the expense, nor to over value the returns, no person will find himself deceived to his loss, by engaging in an undertaking of this kind, provided the circumstances of the speculation are in any degree similar, and provided the soil and climate of his land are no worse than the soil and climate of Gogar moor.
ESTIMATE OF THE EXPENSE AND RETURNS
Attending the Improvement of one acre of land, In Gogar Moor, being an average of the expense and returns of 25 acres lying there:
| Expense of grubbing, gathering, and burning the whins - of spreading the ashes - and part of the expense of the first ploughing. | 2 10 0 |
| Expense of digging ditches and drains. | 1 10 0 |
| Expense of cleaning the land of stones, including the expense of those which were gathered and used in the drains made through the moor. | 9 10 0 |
| Expense of ploughing, harrowing, feed and sowing, cutting, inning, threshing, &c. for four crops of grain and one of turnips. | 11 10 0 |
| Expense of manure. | 8 0 0 |
| Total expended in the course of five years. | 33 00 0 |
| Four crops of oats and one crop of turnips, not less in value, including the straw, than 6l.(£) 12s. | 33 00 0 |
Although Gogar moor never increased my annual income one shilling until I improved it, and though I believe it was of as little value to the former proprietors; yet in a calculation made for ascertaining the profit or loss attending an attempt to render it more valuable, a rent should be stated, and that should be reckoned at the rate which might have been obtained for it immediately before the improvement was undertaken. The rent therefore which I charged in the calculation I am now to make shall be 12s. per acre; the reason I could give for this is sufficient to satisfy you, that 12s. was a fair value at that time, tho’ Mr. Christie got 42 acres of better land at less than 5s. per acre in the year 1781. The general accompt therefore of the moor with me, as a tenant, will stand as follows
Farm of Gogar Moor, one acre
| Debit | Credit |
| 1795 | £ s d | £ s d | 1795 | £ s d | £ s d |
| To sundry expenses per estimate | 33 0 0 | By sundry returns in this year and the four preceding years | 33 0 0 |
| Five years rent, 12s. | 3 0 0 | Balance carried to new accompt. | 5 0 0 |
| Interest of the money employed in the improvement. | 2 0 0 | 38 0 0 | 38 0 0 |
| 1796 Jan.1 |
| To balance per contra, being the money expanded on the improvements. | 5 0 0 | By the present value of the moor |
From the preceding accompt it appears that a tenant even upon a nineteen years tack, improving in the very expensive manner I have done, would make the improvement at the expense of only (£) L5. and would have 14 years to reap the benefit of that improvement. Suppose him then, during the 14 years, either to follow the example of Mr. Dudgeon, or to content him self with the profit which would arise from subsetting his land at 20s. per acre, in either case, it is plain that the advantage derived from such a speculation would be very great. But having shown that a tenant, even as unexperienced as I was, may employ money to great advantage on the improvement of waste land, I shall next state the accompt in the way it now stands with me as proprietor of the farm; previously observing, that I have considerably exaggerated the expense of improvement, and on the other hand, I have under rated the returns; because in offering such accompts to public view, as an encouragement to induce inexperienced persons to engage in similar speculations, particular care should be taken that any variation they may find in practice shall be in their favour.
Farm of Gogar Moor, one acre
| Debit | Credit |
| Dec. | £ s d | £ s d | £ s d | £ s d |
| 30 Dec. | To sundry expenses per estimate | 33 0 0 | By sundry returns per estimate | 33 0 0 |
| Interest of money advanced in making the improvements | 2 0 0 | By stones for roads | 5 0 0 |
| Interest of the money employed in the improvement. | By stones for dykes | 2 0 0 |
| 40 0 0 |
| 1796 Jan.1 | balance | 5 0 0 | 1796 Jan. | By balance per contra. Value of Gogar Moor in its present state, which might be let for 20s per acre, or fold | 25 0 0 |
| 40 0 0 | 30 0 0 |
I am convinced that my neighbours, and those who have observed the progress of the improvement, the crops I have reaped, and the present situation of the land,and those who are acquainted from experience with the cost of reclaiming, and the crops produced by such kind of ground, will readily allow that I have not under-rated the expense I have been at, nor overvalued the crops which I have reaped. In respect to the stones, they are no doubt, of more or less value, in proportion to the use, which a proprietor has for them. If he wants them for the purpose of filling drains in other land, for roads, for inclosures, or for building they are really worth as much as an equal quantity would cost him. In the present instance, they are of still more value to me than I have reckoned them at, because they are necessary for the roads, drains and dykes which I think it for my interest to make; and because I could not procure an equal quantity from any of the neighbouring quarries, for less, (including the expense of carriage) than almost double the sum for which I have given credit. The rent is also greatly below what I have been repeatedly offered for the land, and 25 years purchase cannot be reckoned too high a price on the supposition of its being sold; yet at these rates, upon an advanced stock, which at no period amounted to more than (£) L.10, there is realized in the course of five years a net profit of (£) L.30. And it must be considered at the same time, that the speculation was perfectly safe in its nature, and although it was carried on by an unskilled landlord, under almost every disadvantage to which such an undertaking can be subject, yet the result has been favourable beyond what could have been expected even almost under the best management.
If it shall be objected to the above statement, that the landlord might have let his land in 1791 without any trouble for 12s. an acre, and might then have sold it for (£) L.15 (25 years purchase of the rent), I answer, that no doubt he might; and I allow that the (£) L.15, might in the course of the five years, have yielded him an interest amounting to (£) L.4, making in all (£) L.19; but after deducting from this the (£) L.30, evidently made by the speculation, there remains a difference of (£) L.11 gained upon a stock of (£) L.10, over and above the legal interest of (£) L.2 charged in the expense, making in all (£) L.13 gained in the course of five years, or a profit of 130 per cent on a stock of (£) L.10.
After the above statement, which shews, that the improvement of unproductive or uncultivated land, is highly advantageous, even when executed by unskilful and inexperienced tenants or landlords; permit me to show the very great advantages derived from such undertakings, when executed by judicious and experienced persons, such as Mr. Reid or Mr. Dudgeon. In the case of their improvement it appears that the landlord was repaid the amount of his outlay the very first year, and immediately let his land for 20s. per acre; had he then sold it at 25 years purchase, the net profit gained, in the course of less than 12 months, would have been 500 per cent. on a stock not exceeding (£) L.6, employed in a speculation which, in my opinion, is perfectly safe for those who are fortunately possessed of such land, and who know how to avail themselves of this kind of property.
The tenant, in this instance also, whose knowledge enabled him to judge of the value of such land, did not hesitate to give 20s. per acre of rent, nor to employ a capital of perhaps (£) L.12 in its cultivation. In the course of two years, his capital was re-imbursed with a profit of (£) L.6 at least. In the beginning of the third year, and during its course, the land costs him in labour, feed, and rent, less I am sure, than 3l. (£) 10s. per acre, and before the year expires, he gets into his barn yard a crop worth (£) L.11 at least; here then is a profit of more than 200 per cent. gained in less than 12 months. How his future crops may turn out can only be conjectured, but I see no reason to doubt their continuing to be highly lucrative.
I have, indeed, heard it asserted, that when uncultivated lands are brought to the plough, they will yield for some years, crops superior to what can be afterwards obtained from them by any management whatever: this may be the case; but I am inclined to believe, that resting them from the plough for a proper number of years cannot fail to restore their primary vigour, or power of producing good crops; and I see no reason for supposing that a repetition of labour and manure will not again call that power into action with equal success.
In the shire of Ayr, the advantages of resting land from the plough has been well known for many years; and I have heard that the late Earl of Eglintoun had the merit of being the first person that introduced it into general practice, by restraining the tenants of his large estates from taking more than three crops of grain in succession, and then obliging them, by the terms of the lease of their land, to let it lye in grass for six years.
Some time ago a farther restriction was introduced; instead of three crops of grain, two only are allowed, and this mode of cultivating the land has been found still more advantageous, in so much, that I have heard it warmly contested, who had the merit of introducing that restriction. It is generally allowed to lye between Mr. Fairlie of Fairlie, and Mr. Snodgrass of Cunningham-head. But from what I have heard, were the dates of the leases granted by these gentlemen compared together, the honour would be allotted to Mr. Snodgrass.
I have already said, that I see no reason for supposing that a repetition of labour and manure will not draw from land that has been rested for some years voluntarily, (especially after having been properly prepared and sowed with suitable grass feeds), as good crops, at least, as it yielded after a rest, proceeding from inattention or carelessness of the proprietor. But be that, however, as it may, one thing is certain, the labour of cultivation will cost less; and a saving in the expense of cultivation must, in some degree, if not wholly, compensate for crops less luxuriant. I mean not, however, to contradict the assertion,because I cannot do it from experience, and it would be presumption to set my opinion against that of men bred to the business of agriculture. It is a question of fact, and the decision thereof depends upon the evidence of actual experiments; whether these have ever been made with sufficient accuracy I know not, but I intend to try whether a liberal outlay upon a field which has been cultivated beyond the memory of man, will not be rewarded by crops superior to those it is known to have produced, and sufficient to repay me amply for the extraordinary expense I must incur in making the trial. In short, having improved the unproductive land which lay in my farm, I am now engaged in trying whether a field which I cultivated for eight years at little expense reaping small crops will not, in consequence of a more liberal outlay, make more than proportional returns. If my hopes be not disappointed, the knowledge of my success may encourage others also to cultivate their farms to more advantage, who would not venture to make so costly an experiment at their own risqué. It may even be productive of greater benefit, by encouraging monied men to employ some part of their stock in agricultural speculation, which have been hitherto avoided, on the generally received opinion, that neither capital nor industry, though directed by prudence, will ensure success in agriculture, unless the man who undertakes it has been bred to the benefits, and can cheerfully give the most slavish attention to the minutiæ thereof.
Before giving the accompt, I promised in the first part of this letter, of the expense and returns of cultivating the field abovementioned, it may be necessary to observe, that I engaged in farming on a small scale, and principally with a view to amusement; but I was gradually led to extend my undertaking, and at last to pursue it as a business that promised much advantage. But here candour requires me to acknowledge that I am fond of agriculture, and would gratify my inclination to the employment, even at the expense of some loss.
The land which I began to cultivate, and particularly the farm which I undertook to improve, was in very bad order; and I laboured under every disadvantage that could arise from want of experience, and for want of ability to give that degree of personal attention which I think necessary for carrying on improvements to the greatest advantage.
In the course of six years, however, I made considerable meliorations on this farm, and not withstanding they were effected at much expense, I have not the least reason to regret my undertaking, because at the end of that period I found that my money had been well employed; as I was then offered a rent for the farm, on a lease of 19 years, the increase of which above the original rent would have been a very high interest for all that I had expended on its improvement. But having then acquired some knowledge respecting the expense and profit attending the business of farming, I flattered myself with the hope, that by carrying it on, I should not only improve my land still farther, but that I should draw back the whole of the money the melioration might cost. In this hope I determined to carry on the business, together with the operations necessary for compleating my scheme of improvement; and these having lately attracted the notice of Sir John Sinclair, I was introduced by his solicitation, to begin drawing up a very particular account of what I had done for the improvement of this farm, of the expense it had cost and on the effect it had produced.
I am too conscious of my own want of skill, and ability to ever become a good farmer, to imagine that the measures I have pursued, or may hereafter take in the course of my practice, have been, or will be such as should be adopted by other people in similar situations. I am already sensible of many mistakes into which I fell, and farmers will, no doubt, perceive many more. The account, therefore, which I mean to give, is not designed for their instruction respecting a subject which they already understand; it is intended solely for the information of those who, in circumstances similar to what mine were, might be inclined to employ their money in agriculture; and who would be fond of employing some part of their time also in superintending the operations necessary for carrying on that business, were they not deterred from gratifying their inclination by the Proverb, That HE WHO COUNTS THE COST, WILL NEVER PUT A PLOUGH IN THE GROUND. To such persons, what follows in this letter, and what will be stated in the further account I have promised, is chiefly valuable, as containing a candid relation of the incidents which occurred, and the mistakes which I committed, while exploring a tract which they wish to follow of the methods I took to attain the end I had in view, and of the final result of my undertaking.
In 1787, I began to improve the farm above-mentioned, which contains 140 acres, and is part of a more extensive purchase made by me in 1786. The value of this farm, in proportion to the cost of the whole purchase, and to the rents of the other farms of which it is composed, was about (£) L.2940, or twenty guineas an acre, the rent of it was(£) L.84, or 12s. per acre, at an average. The different fields in it being of different qualities, I rated the rent of each according to its respective value, which I ascertained agreeably to the opinion of some intelligent and experienced farmers, whom I consulted for that purpose. The rent of the field in question was fixed at 16s. per acre. It is nearly square, and contains about 10 Scotch acres; the south half is almost level, the other declines to the north; the field was inclosed but the fences were far from sufficient. The soil is thus described by a Gentleman who examined it at the request of Sir John Sinclair.
“The soil of this field contains but a very small portion of putrid substances, and no calcarious matter but what is adventitious. When dry, it is of a dun colour,but when burnt in the fire, becomes red, and is easily friable between the fingers. It takes a fine mould if ploughed when moderately wet, and contains a considerable proportion of iron, which, when the soil is burnt, is attracted by the magnet; but there is no indication that iron is accompanied with any salt or acid. The soil is of that kind which is usually denominated a soft sandy loam, and is commonly termed by farmers, a hungry, greedy soil, that requires a great deal of fat dung. It appeared, upon examination, to contain about two thirds of fine sand, and the rest being mostly of a clayey, or muddy texture, tenacious of water, and much resembling the spongy mud that prevails in some coal districts, and occasions so much trouble in sinking coal pits. Soil of a similar nature in the immediate neighbourhood naturally produces whins or furze in great abundance and luxuriancy; which circumstance is a strong presumptive proof that there is an abundance of hurtful acids.
The subsoil consists of a mixture of those substances of which the soil is composed, but not so minutely mixed. It is considerably hard and compact but not so greatly as to resist the plough, or to be altogether impervious to water; circumstances highly favourable to many improvements in agriculture. The iron appears in blotches, and streaks of an ochrous colour, but is not found to be hurtful to vegetation. The soil on such an under stratum may, by the plough, be rendered sufficiently deep for any of the operations of agriculture.”
It is also thus described by an experienced farmer.
“The field named the Middle Lochside, consists of clay and sand; it has such a quantity of clay in its composition as makes it proper for wheat, but is not so strong or adhesive as to render it unfit for producing grass, even pasture grass; but like all land that is not of great depth, it partakes of the nature and quality of its bottom, which is, generally speaking, a hard Till impervious to water.
There is, however, a chain length, or more, along the foot of the field, which has a sandy absorbent bottom, the surface of which may not improperly be termed a loam; this extends about two-thirds of the breadth of the field from the west side. The bottom of the other side is a blue Till. The remainder of the field has for its bottom a mixture of yellow and grey Till.”
The field lies about eight miles west from Edinburgh, and four distant from lime, which,including the carriage and expense of spreading on the land, costs about 1s. per boll of slacked lime. Manure brought from Edinburgh I reckon at 5s. the cart load, of 27 cubical feet, and I charge to the land the same price for dung made on the farm.
In 1786, one half of this field had been in oats, the other half in wheat. I began with cross ploughing the ridges: 86 carts of dung were laid on the part which was in oats, and after a second ploughing, the field was sown with barley and grass seeds, (white, red and yellow clover, with rye grass). A crop of hay was cut in each of the two succeeding years; the four following years the fields were pastured and the eighth year it was once ploughed and then sowed with oats. The expenses and returns of the field, during the eight years were exactly as stated in the following abstract of the accompt I kept: -
Middle Lochside, one Acre
| Dr. | Cr. |
| £ s d | £ s d |
| 1787 | To 2 ploughing &c. 8s. | 0 16 0 | 1787 | By 5 bolls barley | 3 10 0 |
| 8 and a half carts of dung | 2 2 6 | straw | 0 15 0 |
| barley, 14s. grass seeds, 16s. | 1 10 0 | foggage | 0 10 0 |
| sowing &c. | 0 4 6 | 1788 | 120 stones of hay, 4d | 2 0 0 |
| reaping, threshing &c | 0 14 4 | foggage | 0 10 0 |
| 1788 | hay making &c. | 0 6 4 | 1789 | 150 stones of hay, 4d. | 2 10 0 |
| 1789 | ditto | 0 6 8 | foggage | 0 10 0 |
| 1790 | repairing fences &c. | 0 8 10 | 1790 | pasture | 1 10 0 |
| 1794 | ploughing &c. | 0 8 0 | 1791 | pasture | 0 15 0 |
| oats sowing &c. | 0 18 10 | 1792 | pasture | 1 10 0 |
| stoning &c. | 0 18 6 | 1793 | pasture | 1 10 0 |
| reaping, threshing &c | 0 16 10 | 1794 | 7 bolls oats and straw. | 7 0 0 |
| 8 years rent | 6 8 0 | stones for roads and dykes | 0 14 0 |
| 15 19 4 |
| 7 19 8 |
| 23 19 0 | 23 19 0 |
By the above, it appears that the produce, in a course of eight years, repaid the expense of labour, manure and feed, together with rent, and a compensation for the stock employed; and as the whole of the money advanced in that period did not amount to (£) L.16, or forty shillings a year, the compensation of 7l. (£) 19s. 8d. nearly twenty shillings per annum, was a very handsome profit, and to many will appear much greater than could have been expected. To such it may occur that the rent of the field (16s. per acre) is rated too low, that the value I put on the pasture is too high or that I have charged the labour at less than it really cost. To the first observation I reply, that the rent was fixed (as above mentioned), by experienced and intelligent farmers, in proportion to the whole rent I could have obtained from the farm, and to the respective qualities of the different fields; and the rent, (£) L.84) was not only thought high at the time I took the farm into my own management but the character of the land was so bad that my undertaking to improve it was ridiculed as an attempt that must not only prove abortive but highly prejudicial to my interest. Nay, after I had actually effected considerable meliorations, and was offered a rent for a lease of 19 years, that would have yielded a high interest for the money I had expended, the general opinion of the neighbourhood was, that no tenant could afford to pay that rent during the currency of the lease, and that, after a few crops, the land would be thrown into my hands in as bad an order as ever, “Because it was poor and hungry soil, which would eat out all the dung that could be laid upon it, without yielding adequate crops in return.” But the question in the present case ought not to be, Is the field at a high or low rent? but, Is the rent charged to the field a fair rent in proportion to the highest rent I could have obtained for the farm at the time I began to improve it? And to this question I answer in the affirmative.
I am also aware of the objection that may be stated against the probability of a field which had so little done for it in the way of manure, becoming, in so short a time, worth more than double the rent in pasture. The fact however was, that part of the field had some preparation for the wheat crop that preceded my barley; the other part on which oats had grown got the whole dung that I charged to the field, and the soil itself is favourable to grass. But this is not all that can be said in support of the valuation of the pasture; I was offered 25s. per acre by graziers, but wanting it for my own horses and cattle, I judged that if it was worth 25s. to a grazier, it must be worth 30s. to myself; and as I kept an account of what it yielded in pasture, I know that it was worth more than 40s. to me.
In respect to the prices I have charged for ploughing and harrowing, they are stated agreeably to a calculation I made before I began my operations, and, in the course of nine years experience, I find, that these prices are more than the intrinsic value of such work: as to the other articles of labour I charged them at what they actually cost. But as I do not give the above accompt to shew the profit attending the business of farming, but merely to establish what the expense and produce of the field were during these eight years, that it may be compared with the expense and produce of the same field, under another mode of management, I have no objection to state the expenses higher, and to give no more credit for the pasture than the rent I was offered for it. Suppose, therefore, that the ploughing &c. had cost me 15s. per acre; suppose also that the expense of reaping &c. had amounted to 25s. per acre, which is 60 per cent. more than it really cost me, (and which is 25 per cent. more than Mr. Johnston of Hillhouse found it cost him, even this last year when wages and provisions were uncommonly high, and when his crop was more than 50 per cent. greater than mine, suppose also that 25 per cent. is added to the sum, which the other articles of labour charged to the field actually cost, and at the same time, suppose the pasture which I valued at 30s. is reckoned worth less to me than to a grazier, to the full extent of all the grazier’s profit, the accompt, on these suppositions, will stand thus:
Middle Lochside, one Acre
| Dr. | Cr. |
| £ s d | £ s d |
| To 3 ploughing &c. 15s. | 2 5 0 | By 5 bolls barley and straw. | 4 5 0 |
| barley and grass seeds. | 1 10 0 | 270 stones of hay, 4d | 4 10 0 |
| oats, | 0 18 0 | 3 years foggage. | 1 10 0 |
| reaping threshing &c. 5s. | 2 10 0 | 4 years pasture 25s. | 5 0 0 |
| labour per former accompt. | 2 5 8 | stones for roads and dykes. | 0 14 0 |
| allowance of 25% | 0 11 5 |
| 6 8 0 |
| 18 10 7 |
| balance gained in 8 years. | 4 8 5 |
| 22 19 0 | 22 19 0 |
In 1795 I resolved to give this field a thorough dressing and I was at much pains to clear it of stones for which I had use in the adjoining field where I was building a sunk fence. I summer fallowed and, in the course of that operation, carried earth from the head and side rigs to fill up hollows in the field that were very hurtful to the crops, by retaining water. I cleaned and deepened the ditch on the south side and, by that means, gave another course to the water of the adjacent ground which, before that time, overflowed and made its way through the middle of the field. I spread over the field about two thousand cubical yards of compost, made of lime, and earth from the head rigs. This compost had lain for a considerable time but had been only once turned. The quantity of lime in the compost amounted to about 900 bolls; the head rigs, that were bared by taking earth from them to make the compost, had fresh lime laid over them; and the hollows in the field, that were filled up with poor soil, had a quantity of lime besides the compost so that the field got in all about 100 bolls to the acre; to this was added stable and byre dung carried to the field and mixed together which, having lain some time, was turned so that it was well rotted when laid on the land; five or six rigs were dunged with Edinburgh street dung; the field, excepting the head rigs, was sowed on the 4th day of Nov. with one boll (or 4 Winchester bushels), of wheat per acre, which was wetted with stale horse urine and then sprinkled with lime to dry it; the appearance of the wheat at this time, excepting in these places where there is much forced earth, is not amiss. The following is an account of what the above operation cost:
Middle Lochside, one Acre.
| Dr. | Cr. |
| 1795 | £ s d | 1795 | £ s d |
| To following 4 ploughing &c. 15s. | 1 12 0 | By stones for dykes. | 1 3 0 |
| Taking away stones. | 2 6 6 | ditto for roads. | 1 14 0 |
| 100 bolls of lime. | 5 0 0 | 2 17 0 |
| making compost and laying it on the field and carrying earth to fill up hollows, in all 520 cart loads, being 260 cubic yards, at tuppence halfpenny per yard. | 2 14 2 | Balance. | 19 1 11 |
| labour per former accompt. | 2 5 8 | stones for roads and dykes. | 0 14 0 |
| 28 cart loads of dung. | 7 0 0 |
| cleaning hedges &c. | 0 1 9 |
| 1 boll wheat, sowing &c. | 2 8 0 |
| Cleaning water furrows, &c.. | 0 0 6 |
| One years rent, | 0 16 0 |
| 21 18 11 | 21 18 11 |
Thus have I given an account of the expense and returns attending the cultivation of the field mentioned in the first part of my letter; together with the expense incurred in the course of last year, by my attempt to cultivate the same field in (I hope) a better, tho’ a more costly manner. The result of this attempt, however, cannot be given till such time as the crops which the field may produce, shall put it in my power to ascertain what that result may be. While I was carrying on these operations, I called the attention of my neighbours to what I did. They allow that the improvement I have made is very considerable; but some of them seem to question whether it will be beneficial to me even as proprietor of the land; and maintain that such improvements would be ruinous to a tenant. I am of a different opinion, thinking that a tenant, even on a 19 years lease, may do all that I have done with advantage to himself; and with regard to the proprietor, asserting with confidence that the improvement will be highly advantageous. The question is now fairly at issue, but it will require several years to determine the justness of our respective opinions. In the meanwhile, I offer the experiment to public observation, as of consequence, in so far as the result may serve either to deter men in my situation from engaging in the business of agriculture or for encouraging them to undertake and carry it on.
The following calculation will shew the additional expense I must incur by cultivating the field in the manner therein stated; and will also shew what the least value of the crops produced must be, in order to reimburse in the course of four years, the whole expenditure. I no doubt expect to be overpaid by four crops; but supposing it should require six, I shall hope that the advantage arising to me (even in the character of a Tenant on a 19 years lease), from the succeeding crops, will greatly exceed what I could make by continuing to cultivate the field in the way above stated. But in the character of the proprietor, the acquisition of arable surface by the removal of stones &c. (not less than 3-fourths of an acre in the field), is ample compensation for the use of the stock I employed in making the improvement.
Middle Lochside, one Acre
Middle Lochside, one Acre
| Debit |
| £ s d | £ s d |
| 1796 | To balance of last years accompt. | 19 1 11 |
| Harrowing rolling &c. | 0 1 6 |
| Reaping threshing &c. | 0 17 0 |
| Rent | 0 16 0 |
| Sundries suppose omitted | 0 0 7 | 20 17 0 |
| 1797 | To balance per contra | 10 7 0 |
| 3 ploughings | 1 4 0 |
| barley & grass seeds. | 1 10 0 |
| Reaping threshing &c. | 0 16 0 |
| Rent | 0 16 0 |
| Sundries suppose omitted | 0 3 0 | 14 16 0 |
| 1798 | To balance per contra | 7 16 0 |
| Hay making | 0 7 0 |
| Rent | 0 16 0 |
| Sundries suppose omitted. | 0 1 0 | 9 0 0 |
| 1799 | To balance per contra | 4 0 0 |
| Ploughing | 0 8 0 |
| Oats for seed | 0 18 0 |
| Reaping threshing &c. | 0 17 0 |
| Rent. | 0 16 0 |
| Sundries suppose omitted | 0 1 0 | 7 0 0 |
| Credit |
| £ s d | £ s d |
| 1796 | By 8 bolls of wheat 23s | 9 4 0 |
| Straw. | 1 6 0 |
| 10 10 0 |
| Balance | 10 7 0 | 20 17 0 |
| 1797 | By 7 bolls barley, 18s. | 6 6 0 |
| Straw. | 0 14 0 |
| 7 0 0 |
| Balance | 7 16 0 |
| 14 16 0 |
| 1798 | By hay. | 5 0 0 |
| Balance | 4 0 0 |
| 9 0 0 |
| 1799 | By 8 bolls of oats, 16s. | 6 8 0 |
| Straw | 1 20 0 |
| 7 10 0 |
I have only further to observe that those who, without experience, may hereafter follow the tract which I have pursued, will have many advantages over me, in consequence of the measures now taken under the authority of Parliament, to collect and to diffuse the knowledge of the best methods of husbandry and thus to throw light on a subject of the greatest national importance.
Before I conclude, the ardour I feel in the business of farming will, I hope, plead my apology for embracing this opportunity to offer my humble tribute of applause to those truly patriotic Persons who have been instrumental in establishing the Board of Agriculture; an institution which must prove of invaluable advantage to Great Britain, and will reflect immortal honour on the Members of Parliament who supported, the Minister who accomplished, and the Sovereign who patronized it; and, in particular, on the Individual who planned and brought forward an undertaking so useful and public spirited, and who now dedicates so much of his time to carry the design of it into effect. The appointment of the Board, indeed, is a measure of which the benefit will remain, when the politics of the day are buried in oblivion. It well entitles the promoters of it to the appellation of the True Friends of their Country, and will render their names more illustrious in the remembrance, and respected in the gratitude of future ages, than the most splendid transactions on which popular applause too frequently confer a mistaken and temporary importance.
I am,
SIR
Your most obedient servant,
RATHO HOUSE,
18th Jan. 1796,
THOMAS MACKNIGHT.
To Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSON, Granton.
Dalmahoy Estate Lists the following information:-
Day – Labourers’ wages; 1743 – 49
Labourers
1743
6s. 0d.
1744
6s. 0d.
1747
6s. 0d.
1748
6s. 0d.
1749
6s. 0d.