An Account of the systems of Husbandry adopted in the more improved districts of Scotland, etc

Front matter

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SYSTEMS OF HUSBANDRY ADOPTED IN THE MORE IMPROVED DISTRICTS OF SCOTLAND. VOL. I. A C M ' y/'t//. V S7U9?*. ■A/,;'.yy>' y Sim John SiakcIsaAjr of Uz,bstaer / /r .i/ia/i // / s'/ //tr- /Ss.rrVf /./. r/ty?rr -rr //*/'/,■ , \> *.;• Ia',- tidinhurfj/t Pnhfishrd fy Jl Coibstabh* 6-?io AN ACCOUNT OF THE SYSTEMS OF HUSBANDRY ADOPTED IN THE MORE IMPROVED DISTRICTS OF SCOTLAND ; WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENTS OF WHICH THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, WITH A VIEW OF EXPLAINING HOW FAR THOSE SYSTEMS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE LESS CULTIVATED PARTS IN ENGLAND, AND SCOTLAND. BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir JOHN SINCLAIR, Bart. PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The Second Edition. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. " Knowledge is power." Bacon- EDINBURGH: Printed by James Ballantyne Sc Co. FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, EDINEUROH* LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, LONDON,* AM' JOHN CUMING, DUBLIN, 1813.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TO THE FIRST EDITION. I have at length the satisfaction of laying before the Public, an Account of the Systems of Hus bandry adoptedT_-Kth_rfl_ore improyed districts of Scotland. It t^as drawn up atthelrequest of a most respectable fri«idJ_(Sii\ Joseph -Banks), who thought, that such an investigation would be pro ductive of beneficial consequences to the agricul tural interests of the united kingdom ; and he urged, that it was incumbent upon a native of Scot land, while presiding at the Board of Agriculture, and possessing all the means of information which that situation afforded, to undertake the task. Being occupied with many other avocations, no thing but the respect which I entertain for the opinion of so zealous a friend to improvement, VI

Part I

Chap. I. — On the Points which require Attention, previous to the Commencement of Arable Culture, 11 (Sect. 1. Position of the Farm-house and Offices, ib. 2. The best Construction of a Farm-house and Offices, 14 3. Size and Shape of Fields, 30 4. Of Fences, and Gates, 43 5. Of Draining, , t 52 6. Of the Roads on a Farm, and its Neighbourhood, ... 63 7. Of Instruments of Husbandry, 71 8. Of Live Stock, , ., 105 CONTENTS Xll Pager Sect. 9. Of the Soil and Sub-Soil, the Climate, the Elevation and Exposure, and the Situation of a Farm in regard to Markets 150 Conclusion of the Chapter, 153 Chap. II. — Of the Particulars connected with the actual Cultivation of an Arable Farm, and the most ADVANTAGEOUS MEANS OF MAINTAINING ITS STOCK, 155 Sect. 1. Of Ridging, «.... 156 *2. Manuring, 171 o. m laughing, .■„*..*•■.•■.■•„■•■•..•■■,.•.•.••..,.■•...•...,■.■„,■.,• L]3 4.

Fa' wing, , 234 5. Crops usually cultivated in Scot/and, 258 6. Rotation of Crops, „ 311 V- Sowing, 34,3 8. Weeding, 356 9. Harvesting Grain, and preparing it for the Miller, 365 10. Of Straw, its Value, and Uses, „ 376 ADDENDA. No 1. Hints Regarding the Question, whether all the Straw of a Farm should be Converted into Dung, or partly Comumed in Feeding Stock. 431 2. Some additional Particulars regarding Threshing itiitis, ..»,,,..,,,., ..,..,.,.,. 43S AN ACCOUNT OF THE HUSBANDRY OF SCOTLAND, more especially as practised in ITS BEST CULTIVATED DISTRICTS.

Introduction

. Of the various circumstances which have contributed to the excellence of Scottish Husbandry, and an explanation of the Plan of the Work. JDEFORE giving any explanation of the plan proposed to be adopted in drawing up the following work, it may not be improper, briefly to point out those causes, which have principally contributed to the excellence of Scottish Hus bandry, as practised in its more improved districts, several of which, however, are not to be considered as solely appli cable to the northern part of the kingdom. 1. Though the climate of Scotland is in general rather unfavourable to cultivation, (a disadvantage which the Scotch farmers have assiduously, and often successfully en deavoured to counteract) yet the country, on the whole, VOL. I. A

INTRODUCTION.

. enjoys several natural advantages of considerable importance. Its maritime situation, and its numerous bays and arms of the sea, together with the lakes and streams with which it is so amply provided, not only tend to promote its commerce, but are also favourable to its agriculture. It is also largely furnished with those essential requisites for im provement, limestone and marie; and it possesses, in most of its districts, that most important article, fuel, in consider able quantities. 2. Owing to the establishment of parochial schools, the farmers of Scotland had, in general, all the advantages of a good education, and having thence acquired a taste for reading, became not only fond of perusing works on agriculture, but were anxious to avail themselves of any information they might thus obtain.

Hence the culture of artificial grasses, and the best mode of applying them by means of soiling, with various other useful practices, spread rapidly over the whole country. Numbers of Scotch farmers, also, were accustomed to travel, with a view of acquiring useful information, and of comparing their own practices with those of other districts.* 3. Many of the proprietors of land in Scotland, who were distinguished by the acquisition of useful, rather than of showy accomplishments, took a delight in rural occupa tions: and, in various districts, now under a complete sys tem of husbandry, they either improved their estates them- * An intelligent farmer once remarked to me, that he derived more advantage, by travelling about to see the improvements of others, than by attempting to make discoveries of his own.

Almost every Scotch farmer has travelled through his own county, and some of the neighbouring ones ; many have visited England, and some have even pene trated into Flanders, for the express purpose of obtaining agricultural information.

INTRODUCTION.

. 3 selves, or encouraged their tenants to exertion, establishing for that purpose a most liberal system of connexiou between the two classes. 4. It became a custom in Scotland, at an early period, to grant leases for an adequate term of years, without the possession of which, no material improvement, on the part of the tenant, can possibly be expected ; and to that circum stance, perhaps more than to any other, is the excellence of Scottish husbandry to be attributed. Indeed, extensive im provements have not taken place in any part of England, but where the same custom has prevailed. In regard to the granting of leases, nothing can be more ill judged, than for a landlord, both to neglect his immediate interests, and to prevent the future improvement of his estate, in order to procure a little political influence, which a generous pro prietor can always command, when he may have occasion for it, without keeping his tenants in a state of slavish de pendence. 5.

In many parts of England, where estates are possess ed by tenants for life, or under the fetters of a trust, it is questionable, whether leases of a considerable endurance can be granted, or whether old pastures, though in extent beyond any real advantage to the estate, can be broken up; whereas in Scotland, even when land is under a perpetual and strict entail, leases may be granted for thirty-one years, and upwards, without any unnecessary restrictions against arable cultivation, and the tenant is enabled to do every thing that the proprietor could have done himself, had he retained possession of the land.* * The act 10. Geo. Ill, c. 51, A. D. 1770, introduced by the late Sir James Montgomery, is favourable to the improvement of entailed property. By that statute it is enacted, that every proprietor of an en tailed estate, who shall lay out money in inclosing, planting, draining, or

INTRODUCTION.

. 6. The inferior capitals of the Scotch farmers, when their improved system of husbandry commenced, rendered it necessary for them, to study economy in the management of their farms, to cultivate their lands with fewer horses, with cheaper implements, and with a smaller number of servants ; and hence originated a system of management, distinguished by two important advantages, economy and simplicity. 7. In the more improved districts of Scotland, the farms are in general of a proper size for arable culture. Small lots are beneath the attention of an opulent and intelligent farmer. Much time is lost in the cultivation of small farms, and the comparative expence is much greater, where the servants and cattle have not constant occupation ; whereas, with a farm of a proper size, (the extent of which will be the subject of future discussion.-j-) every hour may be ad vantageously employed. in erecting farm-houses and offices for the same, shall be a creditor to the succeeding heirs of entail, for three-fourths of the money laid out, provided that the amount claimed, shall not exceed four years' free rent of the estate, at the first term of Whitsunday, after the demise of the heir who expended the money.

The expence of building or repairing the mansion-house or offices, becomes also a debt against the heir of entail, to the amount of three-fourths of the money expended, if the claim does not exceed two years' free rent. It may, however, be ne cessary to observe, that certain formalities are required to be attended to, in expending the money, and constituting it a debt against the heirs of entail. By this statute, which is entitled, an act " for encouraging the Improvement of Land in Scotland, held under Settlements of strict Entail," it is lawful for the proprietor, to let leases for 3 1 years, or for 14 years and one existing life, or for two existing lives, under certain c6nditions as to inclosing, if let for longer than 19 years; and proprietors ■ may let building leases, of not more than five acres extent, under certain conditions, for any period not exceeding 99 years. f See Dissertation I, Part II, On the Size of Farms.

INTRODUCTION.

. 8. Soon after improvements began, the rents of lands were progressively increased, without the spur of which, neither industry in cultivation, nor economy in manage ment, can in general be expected. Oppressive and sudden additions ought certainly to be avoided; but without a lair income for his land, no proprietor ought to part with a control over his estate, more especially for so long a period as nineteen or thirty-one years. A tenant, on the other hand, who obtains a lease of some duration, and on liberal terms in regard to covenants, can well afford a reasonable augmentation, either at once, or at different periods of his lease, on a rent that was previously moderate. 9. It was a circumstance peculiarly favourable to the improvement of Scotland, that the farmers, in general, were liable to no material burden, but their rent to the landlord, by whom the land-tax, and, since the year 1633, the stipend to the clergyman have been usually paid. * Wherever there is any uncertainty in regard to the sums to be exacted, (more especially if the burden increases with the industry exerted) no farmer will attempt any expensive improvement Hence one of the advantages of a recent law, by which the servitude of thirlage, or bondage to any particular mill, may be legally commuted.

The personal services also, to which the Scotch peasantry were, at one time, subjected, and which were often indefinite, are now almost entirely exploded, * One-half of the parochial schoolmaster's salary is paid by the te nantry, together with one-half of the expence of maintaining the poor. This, however, is a trifling object, as the expence of supporting the poor is chiefly defrayed by voluntary collections at church on Sundays. The Scotch farmers are also liable in payment of the property-tax, and either to statute labour, or road assessments.

INTRODUCTION.

. 10. A considerable proportion of the most fertile land in England, until bills of division and inclosure were in troduced, (which have in some degree alleviated the evil, though not to the extent that could be wished for) was actually debarred from improvement, by the common-field system ; whereas in the more improved districts of Scot land, owing to a general Bill of Inclosure passed by the Scotch Parliament in 1695, every farm, for many years past, has been a distinct possession, or been held in seve ralty. 11. The expence of labour in Scotland, does not differ materially from that of several extensive districts in Eng land ; and the day-labourers in that country, certainly execute as much work, within the same period of time, as those in Scotland; but the servants employed in husbandry in Scotland, are in general more tractable, are satisfied with homelier fare, have fewer perquisites, are less accustomed to waste their time and their wages unprofitably, are generally married, and thence steadier in their conduct, are more regular and constant in their hours of labour, and having commonly received a better education, are thence less addicted to debauchery, or to any irregularity of conduct. 12.

In Scotland, the laws are favourable to cultivation and improvement, a circumstance to which the excellence of the Scotch husbandry is greatly to be attributed. Re gulations exist, which facilitate the division of commons and of common fields; fences erected between two distinct estates, are made at the joint expence of the owners ; the value of the tithes of any estate, can be fixed by the de cision of the supreme court of justice, and when once fixed by a legal valuation, and converted into what may be called a com rent, the amount cannot afterwards be increased : The possessor of any estate can, in general, exonerate his

INTRODUCTION.

. 7 property from all indefinite demands upon it, of a feudal nature ; leases are interpreted, by the courts of law, favour ably to the tenant ; and the occupiers of land, in general, are not subjected to any arbitrary burdens, under the name of Poor-rates.* 13. The establishment of banks, and the extension of paper money, have certainly materially contributed to the improvement of Scotland, f Enterprising farmers have thus been supplied, when necessary, with aid to carry on their operations, and have obtained a better price, and a readier payment, for their commodities; — no small induce ments to exertion. Where the public banks, or their branches, also, are established, the savings of the prudent and economical farmer, have not only been safely deposited, and borne an interest of from 3 to 4 per cent., but were al ways ready at his command. 14.

In the last place, the character of the Scots, industrious, economical, intelligent, and persevering, and their habits of life, calculated to maintain that national character, would naturally enable them to reach a considerable degree of excellence, in any art or science, to which their attention might be peculiarly directed. Other causes, as will appear in the course of the following investigation, may have also indirectly contributed to the improved state of Scotch Husbandry ; but the circumstances above detailed, will, it is believed, sufficiently ex- * I say in general, for there are exceptions to this rule in several of the southern counties. *j* The celebrated Sir James Steuart, in his Political Economy, (last edit. vol. iii, p. 197) says, " To the banks of Scotland the improvement of that country is entirely owing. Without going so far, it may be safely asserted, that to the improvement of Scotland they have materially contributed.

INTRODUCTION.

. plain, why that system should have reached a considerable degree of perfection, and may, in various respects, be ac counted a pattern for other districts, similarly situated, in so far as regards arable cultivation. We shall next proceed, to explain the nature of the plan intended to be adopted, in the prosecution of this important enquiry. It is proposed to divide the Work into Two Parts.

PART I.

This Part will be purely practical, explaining, first, the best practices of the most distinguished Scotch farmers, regarding those points which require attention, previous to the commencement of arable culture ; and, secondly, those particulars, which are connected with the actual cultivation of an arable farm, and the most profitable means of maintaining its stock. This part of the work will be concluded with, 1. A general view of the improved Systems of Hus bandry adopted in Scotland; 2. An account of the im provements of which those systems are susceptible ; and, 3. Some observations on the means by which the useful practices of the best Scotch farmers, may be most advanta geously disseminated throughout the less improved districts of England and Scotland ; together with a general view, of the public and private advantages which may be derived from their more general adoption.