Results of judicious Improvements.

59

The holcus lanatus was a thriving crop, though the oats had failed. A small spot of fiorin by the side of the morass, its most appropriate situation, had a very promising appearance, although it had suffered by the encroachment of cattle. The whole of Mr. Boyd's farm may be considered of his own creation. The arable this year consists of eighty acres of wheat, fifty of oats, seven of barley, twenty-two of turnips, and fourteen of potatoes. The number of acres which bore good crops of clover, and those under fallow, I did not ascertain. A small plot of timothy grass was reserved for seed. The cattle and horses were soiled in the yard.

The highest eulogium I can bestow falls short of what is due to the merit of such an appropriation of time and fortune as is exhibited by Mr. Boyd. Farming has certainly much to recommend it as a rational amusement; it not only occupies time agreeably, but gives to a country life a social interest in the seasons, in the general prosperity of neighbours and dependants; and furnishes, on reflection, a heartfelt satisfaction, of which sporting is not susceptible. Field sports, of every description, frequently fail to afford the promised enjoy ment; and even under the most unlimited

60

Farming compared with Sporting.

reward of sanguine hope, leave behind them a recollection which it becomes necessary to stifle, or the self-reproach of wanton cruelty towards unoffending creatures would paralyse all pleasure, in this reflection-that, where we can inflict no pain, we can find no sport.

In addition to which, how often are these pursuits the bane of social intercourse, even among the nearest connexions and dearest friends, the creation of contention and animosity, which become inveterate, and descend a malediction to succeeding generations! Not so with farming: no pre-eminent excellence in management-no extension of improvement, call forth a desire to restrain-no inclination to undervalue-no jealousy of superior means or talent. The only sentiments which are excited are those of rendering justice to merit, by commendation without adulation; and a desire. to emulate those successful examples which promise to the exertions of friends and competitors such substantial rewards.

After finishing our survey of Mr. Boyd's farm, time permitted our inspection of some others in the neighbourhood. Could I have doubted that good farming affords a better produce on bad land than what is obtained from

Draining a first Consideration.

61

superior soils by indifferent management, the evidence now presented to our view would have decided the question.

-

I

A neighbouring farmer accompanied us. inquired of him for what purpose a field which had been broken up was intended? He hesitated at length replied," his neighbours called it a fallow." The painter who, questioning his own skill, deemed it prudent, that mistakes might be avoided, to write under his sign, "This is a Lion," evinced at least candour, in suspecting that a portrait would not be recognized which bore no resemblance to the intended animal.

The fallow in question required the same liberal designation. After this we saw a number of excellent meadow grounds entirely ruined by the presence of water. The want of draining, if it rest with the landlord, is deserving of reprobation; for the yearly tenant cannot be justified to his family by the expenditure of capital on the permanent improvement of his farm, for the possible purpose of having the next year's rent increased. How impolitic and repressive of all kind of effort are yearly

tenures!

62

Scotch and English Farmer's compared.

I could not help regretting the want of attention in others to the manifest superiority of my friend's management. His success will not be complete until his example be generally followed. A striking instance presented itself of good and bad farming. I am persuaded, had any one consulted the person whose crops had so failed, and had proposed the practices he had himself adopted, that he would have used every endeavour to dissuade his near neighbour from them.

What he must have hoped would answer for himself, he would have had no doubt would fail in the hands of another.

However great were the gratifications of the morning, those of the evening were by no means of an inferior description. A party of the most skilful farmers in the neighbourhood were assembled at dinner. Agriculture in Scot land has arrived at its present perfection by its being pursued on scientific principles, under the direction of intelligent persons, whose education entitles them to think, and whose confi. dence in well-tried experiments teaches them to act for themselves, while the generality of farmers in most parts of England are bigotted

Wigtonshire Agricultural Society. 63

to the errors of their predecessors, and arefrom ignorance and prejudice, fearful and disinclined to abandon the over-beaten tract of mismanagement.

To-morrow we inspect some of the best farming in this district, and afterwards attend the annual show of the Wigtonshire Agricultural Society. I feel how very unreasonable it is to expect your patience should endure my prolixity. Nothing is so difficult as to know where to stop on a subject so interesting. Yet I must conclude! And though with perfect consciousness of my own exorbitance, I really have not resolution to promise amendment. I must therefore rely on your mercy and forgiveness, for I fear " I shall sin and repent-repent and sin again." Adieu.

J. C. C.