Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

AGRICULTURE. 217
ness, at least in 1720, but does not appear to have made
much progress, twenty years afterwards. Indeed, even
then, it was but partially cultivated in the Lowlands.
As late as 1770 it was still making a slow progress, even
upon the Highland border. It now, however, exten-
sively cultivated ; and to its Uis>e must be attributed the
increased means and improved food of the people, as well
as the great augmentation in number which they have
experienced. In ordinary soils it is managed in the usual
manner; but scarcely ever in the drill method, except
in Lowland hands. On the sea shores, and in the petty
farms, the usual practice is that of lazy beds. In rocky
and thin soils, the earth is piled up by the spade; and
in peat mosses, the same practice is followed, or else deep
drains are cut, so as to produce the same ejflfect. Thus
the peat is drained and easily maintained in a loose state ;
while, being highly manured, and generally with sea
weed, it produces very good crops. This is a practice
which would, however, in many cases, admit of improve-
ment. Much labour is employed in making up these
beds, while the quantity of drained peat thus gained is
inconsiderable. Were the same work bestowed on cut-
ting drains, much larger portions might be reclaimed
and it would not require much contrivance to direct such
labour to that end, so as even sometimes to render it
effectual towards improving the general estate. The sets
are dibbled in and carefully weeded ; a practice almost
utterly neglected with regard to corn ;
so that the whole
of the potatoe cultivation offers a strong contrast to the
remainder of the agriculture of the Highlands. It is
easy enough to explain this difference. To alter any
thing which relates to the culture of grain, would imply
innovation; and that is always difficult. The mere in-
troduction of the potatoe was the innovation in this case:
it operated by its own intrinsic weight, and necessarily
;