Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

214 AGRICULTURE.
usual to SOW on the first furrow, without cross plouqhing
even Aviiere there is no excuse for this practice in the
lightness of the soil, as is the case in Tirey. Thus the
crops appear to a stranger as if they had been drilled
with this only difference, that for every line of corn there
is a parallel one of weeds. Of course, all the advantages
that might be derived from deep ploughing or pulveris-
ing the soil are sacrificed. As far as relates to the sandy
soils, it would often be for the interest of a farmer to
leave them in pasture ;
but in the present divided system
of farms, that is impossible, because every man must raise
grain from his lot, be that what it may. On the sea
shores, the cultivation of such soils is rendered profit-
able by the command of sea weed which these oft'er:
although the people in general are far from taking all
the advantage of it which they might. In some places,
however, they raise crops in this manner that will asto-
nish a southern traveller; since they are produced from
the pebbles of the sea beach. The barley is sown on
the sea weed that is strewed on these ; and, as it rots,
the grain drops with it into the interstices; so that when
the harvest is ready, it is seen growing on a surface of
naked and polished pebbles.
The construction of the ploughs and the harrows is as
defective as every thing else, and scarifying and rolling
are totally unknown ; nor has the hoe and drill system
yet been introduced, even for potatoes, except in tlie
hands of a few opulent tenants, who have adopted the
Lowland system of farming. In reaping, the sickle is
exclusively used ;
but considering the necessity of expe-
dition, in a climate so varying, and where labour cannot
be purchased, the scythe might often be introduced with
advantage. But so little activity is shown in the business
of harvesting, urgent as it almost always is, that we need
;