Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
On the Agriculture of the County of Fife

By James Macdonald, Special Reporter for the Scotsman, Aberdeen. [Premium—Thirty Sovereigns.]

General and Introductory.

The county of Fife has pre-eminent claims to the dignified title of the "Kingdom," with which it is frequently honoured. It is more largely surrounded by water than any other county in the mainland of Scotland; and few counties in the United Kingdom are more self-supporting—so extensive and so valuable are its manufactures, so varied and so rich are the treasures of its rocks and the production of its soil.

Fifeshire is attached to the mainland of Scotland only by a narrow band on the western side, where it joins the counties of Kinross, Clackmannan, and Perth. Its other three sides are bathed in the waters of the ocean—the south by the Firth of Forth, the north by the Firth of Tay, and the east by the German Ocean. It lies between 56° and 56° 28' north latitude, the "East Neuk" being in 2° 35', and the most westerly point in 3° 43' west longitude. From east to west it averages about 36 miles, and right down the centre from north to south it measures about 14 miles. It has been ascertained by the Ordnance Survey that the area of the county is 513 square miles, or 328,427 acres. About four-fifths of the whole area is under regular cultivation, the greater portion of the remainder being under wood. The county is divided into 64 parishes, a number of which are by no means large. The population in 1871 was 160,735, and the number of inhabited houses 27,056. There are in all 10,410 owners of land in the county, 8638 having less than one acre, or 1517 acres divided amongst them; while 1772 have possessions exceeding one acre in extent, or in all 302,846 acres. In 1872-3, when the return of owners of land in Scotland was taken up by the Government, the gross annual value of the possessions of 1772 large landed proprietors was L.741,379, 10s.; and those of the 8638 small land owners, L. 164,197, 17s. The gross annual value of the whole county, exclusive of burghs and railways, according to the Valuation Roll for 1874-5, is L.698,470, 13s. l0d. The total valuation of burghs is L.208,002, 8s. 4d., and of railways, L.49,957—grand total, L.956,430, 2s. 2d.

The Board of Trade returns for the present year (1875) state the total number of acres under all kinds of crops, bare fallow and grass, at 243,669 acres, of which 16,748 were under wheat, 30,037 barley or bere, 37,646 oats, 1304 rye, 2483 beans, and 109 peas, being a total under grain crops of 88,327 acres. The average under green crop was 47,460 acres—28,514 under turnips, 17,746 potatoes, 34 mangold, 23 carrots, 88 cabbage, kohl rabbi, and rape, and 1055 vetches and other green crop. Of permanent pasture there is 50,261 acres, and of grasses under rotation, 56,430 acres, and of bare fallow, or uncropped arable land there is 1189 acres.

Though almost every corner of the county is the scene of great enterprise and no little activity, it cannot be said that the general aspect of Fifeshire is strikingly commercial. On the contrary, it has the appearance of being a quiet, retired rural spot, where the aesthetic has never been wholly lost sight of. Few counties in Scotland, if indeed any, can boast of a larger number of baronial residences and gentlemen's seats than are to be found studding and beautifying the undulating landscape of Fifeshire. The number of landed proprietors is larger than in any other county of similar size in Scotland, and the fact that these worthy gentlemen, with a few exceptions, have all along been in the habit of residing on their desirable possessions in Fife, explains the preservation of the county from the modernising hand of trade and commerce. Not that they have hampered the spread of industry and enterprise,—they have encouraged and aided the development of every healthy industry in a manner that reflects upon them unbounded credit,—but they have with equal care and rigour preserved the amenities of their native county. Even in the greatest mining centres where coal-pits are seen to the right and to the left, the scenery is very fine, being beautified by numerous clumps of trees; while in the purely agricultural districts, the carefully cultivated fields are tastefully fringed by thriving belts of wood. The surface undulates considerably, yet there are no high hills, the point of greatest eminence—West Lomond—being-only 1713 feet above the level of the sea. The Largo Law hill, situated in the parish of Largo, on the south coast, rises to a height of 1020 feet, and commands a magnificent view of the Firth of Forth and the city of Edinburgh. The Lomonds lie at the north-west of the county, and impart to the scenery around them an aspect which contrasts strikingly with the landscape along the seaboard. Seated on the highest eminence of these hills on a clear day, and provided with a powerful binocular field-glass, one can command a most exquisite view. At our feet lies the historical Kingdom of Fife spread out like a magnificent carpet, while away in the distance the prospect is grand in the extreme. Southwards we see the low winding ranges of the Pentlands and the Lammermuirs, and the richly cultivated Lothians; to the west lies, dimly shrouded, the lofty Ben Lomond; to the north, the rugged range of the Grampians; and, turning to the east, the prospect softens down to the blue haze of the German Ocean. The smaller objects of attraction in this wide range are far too many to be enumerated, but, in a word, it may be said that the prospect is one of the finest to be had anywhere in Scotland; and what country can boast of grander prospect than the

"Land of brown heath and shaggy wood"?

There are no very large plantations, the wood being pleasantly strewed over the whole county in thriving clumps, diversifying the scenery and lending a lustre to the charm of the landscape. The county has no less than 85 miles of a coast line, considerable portions of which are bold and rocky, and indented here and there by miniature bays. Between Wemyss and the "East Neuk" a pretty large stretch is low and sandy, and parts of it strewed with massive pieces of rock; while on the east it is irregular and very rocky, and on the north-east plain and sandy.

There are only two rivers worthy the name—the Eden, which rises in the parish of Arngask, and after a quiet winding course of about 24 miles, empties itself into St Andrew's Bay; and the Leven, which has a course of only 12 miles, rising in Loch Leven, in the parish of Portmoak, and falling into the Firth of Forth at Leven. The next largest stream is the Orr—a slow muddy stream winding from the Saline hills easterly to Dysart. There are several very small streamlets throughout the county, the most of which are tributaries of the Eden, the Leven, or the Orr. The Eden and the Leven at one time were valuable salmon rivers, but now mill-dams and manufactories disturb the fish and make the rivers almost worthless in this respect. The trout-fishing, however, is excellent on nearly all the waters, as also in several of the lochs. There is a number of lochs in the county, but the majority of them are very small, the principal ones being Lindores —about four miles in circumference; Lochgelly, about three miles in circumference; and Kilconquhar, about two miles in circumference. Moors are neither numerous nor large, and game very scarce, hares and partridges being the predominating species. The majority of the landlords preserve their shootings; but it is seldom that game grievances disturb the political atmosphere of Fife. In the higher parts, adjoining Kinross, there is a considerable quantity of peat-moss, and deposits of moss are met with here and there throughout the county.

One important feature of Fife is the very large number of towns and villages that are scattered over the county. There are no fewer than fourteen royal burghs, and a whole host of villages, chiefly along the coast. Cupar is the county town. It is situated on the river Eden, has a population of 5105, and is a cleanly kept busy little town of great antiquity. By far the largest town is Dunfermline, situated at the south-west end of the county. During the past two centuries it has risen from an unimportant rural village to one of the principal manufacturing towns in Scotland. It has a population of 14,963, is yearly extending in magnitude, and may be called the commercial capital of the county. St Andrews, once the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, is a city of very great interest to the antiquary, because of the peculiarly eventful character of its ancient history. It was constituted a royal burgh by David I. in 1140, and was once a most populous town, but since the Reformation it has dwindled away considerably, and now it can number only 6316 inhabitants. The University of St Andrews was founded in 1411 by Bishop Wardlaw, and is thus the oldest university in Scotland. The "Lang Toon" (Kirkcaldy), famous for its manufactories and as the birthplace of Adam Smith, the talented author of the "Wealth of Nations," has an industrious population of 12,422; while Dysart, situated on the coast two miles northeast from Kirkcaldy, numbers 8919 persons. Burntisland, a rising-watering-place, stands on the coast almost immediately opposite Edinburgh, and has a population of 3265. It is surrounded by scenery of great grandeur, is held in high repute as a watering-place, and during the summer months, when it is resorted to by hundreds of the inhabitants of Edinburgh and other towns, is the scene of no little life. The village of Lower Largo is famous as having been the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the prototype of "Robinson Crusoe," while Anstruther-Easter, a royal burgh with a population of 1,289, ranks amongst its sons with pardonable pride the celebrated Dr Chalmers. The ancient history of the county of Fife is of much more than ordinary interest on account of its being so closely connected with the life and history of the kings of Scotland. Anything merely historical is beyond the range of this report, but a few sentences may be given. At one time the entire district, comprising Fife, Clackmannan, Kinross, the eastern part of Strathearn, and the country west of the Tay, as far as the river Braan, was inhabited by the Horestii, a Celtic race, and was designated Ross, meaning a peninsula. The peninsula was partly divided about 450 years ago, but it was not till 1685 that the county of Fife was reduced to its present size. At the time of the Roman invasion the Celts were driven from their peninsular domain, and after the Romans came the Picts, who united with the Scots about the middle of the ninth century. In 881, and in several subsequent years, the Danes invaded the county and troubled the inhabitants dreadfully. Down till 1424 the Thanes of Macduff held sway over the greater portion of ancient Fife, but on the execution of their last chief, Murdoc, their estates were confiscated to the Crown, and Falkland Palace, the residence of the Thanes, became the property and abode of the kings of Scotland. Since then the social atmosphere of Fife has been comparatively clear and tranquil, while enterprise and enlightenment have all along been the order of the day. It is worthy of mention that Malcolm Can-more, David I., Malcolm the Maiden, Alexander III., Robert Bruce, his Queen Elizabeth and nephew Randolph, Annabella, Queen of Robert III., and Robert Duke of Albany were buried in the Abbey of Dunfermline, an antiquated ruin, founded by Malcolm III. about 1070. In digging for the foundation of the new parish church in 1818 the tomb of Robert Bruce was discovered, and his skeleton found wrapt in lead.

The county sends one member to Parliament, the present representative being Sir Robert Anstruther, Bart. of Balcaskie; while Cupar, St Andrews, East and West Anstruther, Pittenweem, Kilrenny, and Crail have one member—Mr Edward Ellice; and Kirkcaldy, Dysart, Kinghorn, and Burntisland another—Sir George Campbell. Dunfermline and Inverkeithing are conjoined with the Stirling District of Burghs; and by the Reform Act of 1868 the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh were combined into one constituency, their present representative being Dr Lyon Playfair. The county is divided into two districts, an eastern and western, for judicial purposes, and each division is under the jurisdiction of a sheriff-substitute. For civil purposes it is divided into four districts, viz., Cupar, St Andrews, Kirkcaldy, and Dunfermline.

The railway system now extends to nearly every district of the county, while the ferry-boats at Burntisland and Tayport bring the county into close connection with the principal centres of trade and commerce in Scotland. The expenditure on railways within the county during the past ten or twelve years has been very great, and if once the branch—now in process of construction—from Dunfermline to Inverkeithing and Queensferry were opened, the system will be almost complete. In the matter of roads also the county is well accommodated.

A monthly cattle market is held at Cupar, while similar fairs take place at stated times at other parts of the county. During the winter and spring grain markets are held weekly at all the principal agricultural centres. The proximity and easy access, however, to the Edinburgh markets make farmers less dependent on the local fairs for the sale of their stock and grain than they would otherwise be.

Population.

The following table shows the population of the county at various stages during the past seventy-four years:—

1801,  93,743
1811, 101,272
1821, 114,556
1831, 128,839
1841, 140,140
1861, 154,770
1871, 160,735

The increase since 1801, it will thus be seen, is 66,992; and it is worthy of notice that the increase has been gradual and constant. The number of inhabited houses in 1851 was 24,610, now it is 27,056, and the number of separate families 38,038. The present population is equal to about 313 to the square mile, or little more than 2 to each acre; or to put it exactly, 53 to every 26 acres. The average number of persons to each house is very close on 6, The topographical nomenclature—the touchstone of the ethnographer—of the county of Fife is sufficient to demonstrate the fact that the aboriginal inhabitants were Celts. The number of farms and places designated by Celtic names is very large, and it is peculiarly interesting to note the striking similarity that exists between the local names of Fife and those of several of the northern counties of Scotland, a fact that speaks of a similarity or kinship between the original inhabitants of Fife and those of the north. The Horestii—the name given to the tribe of Celts that originally inhabited Fife, or rather the peninsula of Ross—were not characterised by industry or enterprise, and like their kinsmen in the north must have had often to be satisfied with a scanty meal; for in those days Fife is described as having been nothing else than an immense forest full of swamps and morasses and inhabited by wild beasts. They had no towns in their possession, but occupied hill forts, the remains of many of which are still to be seen at several spots throughout the county. The Horestii were almost wholly annihilated by the Romans, who in turn were succeeded by the Picts, that ancient Celtic race, regarding whose origin and early history so much has been written and spoken. Fifeshire formed part of the southern boundary line of the Pictish territory, the English having then possessed the Lothians and the independent Britons the kingdom of Cumbria, while the Scots, another Celtic race  that inhabited ancient Scotland, or in other words the "Emerald Isle," occupied the western coast from the Firth of Clyde to Ross-shire. Towards the middle of the ninth century the two Celtic races—the Picts and the Scots—united, and lived peaceably until disturbed by the ambitious Danes, who invaded Fife in 881. From that time down till 1424, when the extensive lands of the Thanes of Macduff (who possessed the greater portion of Fife) were, on the execution of Murdoc the last chief of the Thanes, confiscated to the Crown, the county frequently sustained considerable damage at the hands of invaders. In the days of James V., who resided at Falkland Palace, the social condition of Fife, like the most of Scotland, was not of the brightest or the happiest description. But the reign of that unfortunate monarch may be noted as one of the turning points, a new point of departure, in the social history of Fife, for ever after the county has been found in the van of progress. The advance in the social and intellectual scale during the present century has been most marvellous; and Mr Westwood, in his "Parochial Directory for 1862," says that "perhaps nothing gives that progress so much prominence as the magnitude attained by the newspaper press connected with the county. Previous to 1822 there was no newspaper published in Fife, and the practice was to advertise county and other public meetings in an Edinburgh newspaper, and a few hundreds would probably cover the sum total of every newspaper that found an entrance into the county. At present (1862) Fife can boast of ten weekly newspapers and advertising sheets, besides three with a fortnightly issue, having a total circulation of 25,000; nor is this all, for the circulation of Edinburgh and other newspapers not connected with the county is at present ten times more than it was when no native broadsheet existed. All this, without taking into account the immense circulation of periodicals and books of every shape and size, which forty years ago had no existence, exhibits an intellectual progress penetrating to all classes of our society, and exerts an educational influence unequalled in any country or in any age of the world." Even since 1862 there has been considerable improvement in the social condition of the county. The educational machinery, always abreast of the times, has been improved and extended a good deal of late, and is now second to that in no other county in Scotland; while the position and influence of the newspaper press has been greatly strengthened. The mining and manufacturing interests being so extensive, the number of commercial men in the county is necessarily large, and these as a class are sharp, shrewd, intelligent, and well to do; while the farmers, generally speaking, are independent, industrious, enterprising, comfortably-conditioned men, several of them wealthy. The working population have superior advantages in the way of house accommodation, and are well-behaved, economical, industrious, and trustworthy. Miners, an exclusive class of men, not always credited with peaceful social habits, form an important class in the county. Barring a little roaring now and again, however, about strikes and trades unions, Fifeshire has little to complain of in this respect. There is less stir and bustle now, however, in the mining centres than some two or three years ago, when the revolutionary movements in the mining world were at their height. On a summer's Saturday afternoon some two years ago it was almost an absolute impossibility for ordinary persons to obtain a cab or a carriage of any description in Dunfermline for an hour's drive, the miners, rampant with their ten shillings a day, having them all engaged for a drive "into the country."

The dialect of the county is varied. The ordinary people speak mixed Scotch, while in the higher circles English only is heard. Throughout the county generally several antiquated social habits still obtain. The farmers, for instance, in speaking of the produce of their farms, calculate by the Scotch acre instead of by the imperial acre as in most other counties, while the ancient system of regulating rent by the fiars is still adhered to in many cases. Sporting is indulged in only to a limited extent. There is one pack of foxhounds and one pack of harriers, and no fewer than forty-one curling clubs in the county; but the favourite outdoor sport seems to be the "royal game of golf." The links at several of the towns and villages along the coast are specially adapted for golf, and during the summer they are all taken full advantage of. The county can also boast of a very creditable body of mounted volunteers, as well as a strong regiment of rifle volunteers.

Climate.

The climate of the county is modified by proximity to the sea. It is not so variable, not so cold in winter nor so hot in summer as in larger continental areas of country. The climate is mild, and the air humid and healthy, while the rainfall is not by any means heavy. In the darker ages, when the extensive valleys lay in spongy swamps, foul mists continually shrouded the county, keeping it constantly in a damp, disagreeable, unhealthy state. These mists are peculiarly trying to delicate constitutions, while they foster and encourage disease of various kinds, and man and beast often suffered very considerably from their prevalence. As the ignorant feudalisms and rude barbarities of ancient Fife have been swept away by the current of modern culture and the spread of civilisation, these dingy mists have disappeared before the enterprising agriculturist. Thorough drainage and improved cultivation have completely revolutionised the county of Fife—have changed it from an unhealthy swampy waste, a nursery for wild beasts, into a rich agricultural county. Occasionally several of the valleys are still visited by floating mists and "hoar" frosts, and in the month of July grain and potatoes are heavily damaged thereby, while in winter turnips in low ground often fall victims to these hoar frosts. But the loss sustained in this way is trifling compared with what was experienced some fifty or sixty years ago. Westerly winds prevail, but sometimes in spring and autumn biting east winds sweep along the east coast, especially in spring, doing slight damage to the young crops. The numerous belts and clumps of wood, however, that stud the fields break and soften the current of the wind, and lessen immensely the damaging effect on the crops. The climate varies a little in some parts of the county, being a little more rigorous in the higher lying parts than in the valleys and on the coast. Severe passing storms of wind and rain sometimes sweep along the coast from the German Ocean, but it is seldom that snow lies to any great depth or for any length of time on the lands near the sea. The higher lands and hills in the interior are often clothed in a snowy mantle in November, and coated to the depth of several inches now and again during the winter. On the whole, the winters are comparatively open, and agricultural operations are rarely suspended in consequence of the weather. Rough weather seldom prevails in spring, while the harvests, or rather autumns, are invariably favourable. Vegetation commences early and continues far through the season, The flora of the county is peculiarly rich, and interesting to the botanist. The Thalami-floral orders, the Crowfoot (Ranunculaceœ) family especially, are extremely well represented, at least one species of the genus Tha-lictrum being found in Fife and in no other county in Scotland. The rainfall during the year generally averages about 21½ inches, or 486,265 gallons to the acre. The following table shows the rainfall during each of the twelve months of 1873 and 1874 at the Fife and Kinross District Lunatic Asylum, near Cupar:—

Geology—Soils.

That well-defined valuable group, the Carboniferous system, lying in the geological table of the earth's crust, between the Old and New Red Sandstone, is the formation that abounds in Fifeshire as in extensive portions of the Lothians and the south-west of Scotland. The system, however, is not by any means intact in the county. In almost all the Dunfermline and a considerable portion of the Kirkcaldy district it abounds pretty exclusively. Here the coal formation is extensive and very rich, and affords a valuable contribution to the coal supply of our country, while it makes the west of Fife one of the busiest centres in the "Land o' Cakes." Ironstone is abundant in several parts of the county, and is extensively quarried at Oakley and other works in the Dunfermline district. Lead was at one time quarried out of the Lomond hills.

With the exception of a narrow band running from Dunfermline to Dunino, near St Andrews, the eastern and northern portions of the county are almost entirely destitute of coal. On the high lands in the parishes of Cameron, Ceres, Kettle, and Falkland, and along a ridge in the direction of Dunfermline, the carboniferous limestone exists in great quantities, and is worked extensively. The soil on the section of the county north of the valley of the Eden lies on those felspathic igneous traps that are so often connected with the Old Red Sandstone. This formation, however, does not exist to any great extent, being confined chiefly to the valley of the Eden, where the upper or yellow group abounds. Freestone of considerable value is quarried at various points. Dura Den—a romantic ravine in the neighbourhood of Cupar—is peculiarly rich in those fish fossils so characteristic of the Old Red, and has engaged the pen of many of our most talented geologists who have paid it a visit hammer in hand, eager to possess some of its fossilised treasures. With all this variety of rocks and formations throughout the county, the soil of the various districts necessarily differs considerably, the character of the soil being generally dependent upon the chemical condition of the rocks that underlie it. In a few hollows on the north-west alluvial accumulations form the soil, but with these exceptions the soil of the different districts corresponds pretty closely to the underlying rocks. Thus in the section of the county north of the Eden the soil is quick and fertile, the trap rocks which abound there being rich in those "inorganic substances which are essential to the healthy sustenance of plants." Nowhere north of the Eden is there great depth of soil, neither is it very strong, but it is kindly, very productive, and specially suited for the cultivation of grass. True to the characteristics of the trap districts, the scenery and surface north of the Eden presents great diversity—numerous irregular mounds and many waving valleys. The soil that overlies the Carboniferous system is generally composed of cold retentive clays and decomposed bituminous shales, and is seldom fertile or easily cultivated. This rule still holds good in several parts of Fife; but the advanced system of farming—the extensive draining and the heavy manuring—of the past fifteen or twenty years, have immensely improved the natural properties of the soil, have changed much of it into fertile land. The Howe of Fife or Stratheden, comprising both sides of the Eden up as far as Cupar, has rich fertile soil, parts of it being exceedingly productive. South of the Eden the land rises gradually until it reaches, in the parish of Cameron, an elevation of upwards of 600 feet. On this high land the soil is cold and stiff and of a clayey character, with a mixture of lime. Around Ladybank the soil is very light and shingly, and presents signs of having been swept off its richest earthy coating by a current of water. The land on the rising ground in the parishes of Collessie, Monimail, Cults, and Kettle is considerably heavier and more valuable than in the valley of Ladybank. In the neighbourhood of the Lomonds the soil is light, but sharp and valuable for grass, while similar remarks apply to the high land of Auchtermuchty, Leslie, and Kinglassie. In the parishes of Death, Auchterderran, and Ballingry, the land is principally cold and stiff; but several very excellent highly-cultivated farms are to be found in these parishes. A good deal of the land on the north side of Dunfermline is composed of clay of a strong retentive nature, while on the south the soil is chiefly thin loam, with a strong clayey subsoil. In the parishes of Saline, Torryburn, and Carnock the soil is mainly a mixture of clay and loam, and is generally very fertile. All along the coast the soil, though variable in composition, is rich and productive. The "Laich of Dunfermline" has a strong clayey soil, somewhat stiff to cultivate, but on the whole very fertile. The soil on the coast from Inverkeithing to Leven varies from light dry to strong clayey loam, rendered extremely fertile and friable by superior cultivation. About Largo the soil is deep rich loam, and produces magnificent crops of all kinds, while in Elie it is light but very fertile. Along the east coast the soil is deep and strong and very productive, consisting chiefly of clay and rich loam. Speaking generally, very little hindrance is afforded to tillage by rolling stones or upheavals of rock, but here and there all over the district, sloping down from the heights in the parish of Cameron to the Firth of Forth, beds of water-worn boulders are met with. These boulders, lying in beds or rows from north-west to south-east, belong to the metamorphic rocks, and were brought thither doubtlessly by floating icebergs during the glacial period. In the neighbourhood of St Andrews the soil is by no means heavy, while the section lying north-east of Leuchars village is sandy and very light, especially on the east coast, where a large tract of land known as Tent's Moor is wholly covered with sand, and almost useless for agricultural purposes. In Forgan and part of the parish of Ferry-Port-on-Craig, the soil, though light and variable, is kindly and fertile. On the farm of Scotscraig there are a few fields of very superior land.

The Progress of the past Twenty-Five Years.

The total acreage reclaimed in Fifeshire since 1850 is very small, almost every suitable tract of land having been brought under the plough long before that time. The spirit of improvement dawned early on the county of Fife, and hence all the important reclamations date much further back than the range of this report. In dividing and squaring up fields during the past twenty-five years, many small patches and out-of-the-way corners that previously produced only rough pasture have been made into cultivated land, while around the base of hills on the borders of Kinross a few fields have been reclaimed partly from moss and partly from strong pasture land. Draining of course was the first operation in all those improvements, the stronger land being trenched to a considerable depth. But though the acreage is not greatly increased, the progress of the past twenty-five years has nevertheless been very great. Those who recollect the state of agriculture previous to 1850 can trace in the farms of the present day many wonderful improvements. In fact, though a few of the older farmers still retain many of the ancient customs,—customs that will in all probability die with themselves,—it may almost be said that an entire change in the system of farming has taken place in Fife during the past quarter of a century. The science and practice of agriculture have of late years been receiving considerable attention from a large section of the Fifeshire farmers, and in the increased productiveness of the soil the result is showing itself more and more strikingly every year. The expenditure for improvements since 1850—and it has been very large—must be noted mainly against draining, building, and fencing. Having been naturally very wet and swampy, and next to useless in its original state, the greater portion of the land was thoroughly drained early in the present century. Naturally, however, these drains, never perhaps of the first order, required mending after having done good service for perhaps a nineteen years' lease; and during the last twenty-five or thirty years, almost the whole of the county has been redrained.

A great deal has been done since 1850 in the way of improving the buildings in the county. The farmer's dwelling-houses have been immensely improved, while a very large number of as fine farm-steadings as are to be seen anywhere in Scotland have been erected. A very considerable amount of money has also been spent in the erection of labourers' cottages. Almost every farm of even moderate size in the county is now provided with servants' cottages of the most approved construction, and we are inclined to think that in the matter of house accommodation for the labouring classes, Fifeshire stands second to no other county in the kingdom. An immense stretch of fencing has also been erected since 1850; but still much, very much, remains to be done in this respect. Ring fencing is pretty complete, but there is a great want of interior or dividing fences. Every successive year, however, adds greatly to supply this much-felt deficiency, and before many years have past, it will in all probability be fully supplied. The true character or real value of these, and all similar improvements, must of course be found reflected in the rent-roll; and thus the following table of the total valuation of the county (exclusive of railways and burghs) at various periods since 1674 will be noted with interest:—

An increase during the past twenty-five years of L. 100,696, or an average of close on L.4036 a-year, is very creditable indeed, though it may not quite compare with the rise in the rental during the same period in some other counties, especially in the northern regions of Scotland. It must be kept in mind that, as already stated, and as borne out by the table of figures just given, the principal reclamations and improvements which go to increase the valuation of a county were executed in Fife previous to 1850, while in these other counties it is chiefly since then, or shortly before that date, that those operations were carried out. The considerably greater increase during the past half century in the value of grazing land, compared to arable land, has also tended to retard Fifeshire in the general advance of rental.

Some half a century ago the county of Fife occupied a slightly higher position than it does now in the comparative valuation list of counties of Scotland. Its valuation for its acreage, or say its valuation per acre, compared with that per acre in the other thirty-two counties in Scotland, was slightly higher then than now. Not that Fifeshire has been receding or sluggish in the race, on the contrary it has been gradually and steadily moving onwards, but other counties (taking up the good work begun by the farmers of Fife and southern agriculturists generally, and carrying it on, too, with all that spirit and zeal so characteristic of our Scottish farmers) have been gaining ground upon it. Fife stands seventeenth among the Scottish counties with respect to gross acreage, six—Inverness, Argyll, Ross, Perth, Aberdeen, and Sutherland— being close on four times its size; while other four—Dumfries, Ayr, Lanark, and Kirkcudbright—are nearly twice as large. In 18.15 Fife occupied the proud position of fourth highest in Scotland with regard to valuation, the three higher counties being Lanark, Perth, and Ayr, while Forfar came fifth, and Aberdeen sixth. Now it stands fifth, Aberdeen having not only made up to its spirited little rival in the south (for little it may be called when compared with Aberdeen, a county four times its size), but passed it by about L.17,158—a comparatively small sum, however, taking into account the difference in the size of the two counties. The following table shows the position Fife occupied in 1815 and occupies now, in comparison with the sixteen counties that exceed it in gross acreage:—

It will be seen from this tabulated statement that Fifeshire's comparative position was a little more prominently to the front in the early days of the present century than now. It cannot be expected that a large annual increase of rental can go on for ever at the same ratio. A certain point once reached, then the increase must be limited; and we are of opinion that at 1815 the county of Fife had attained a higher elevation in the steep hill of advancement than most other counties between the Firth of Forth and John O'Groats. Hence the recent apparent gaining of ground by these other counties. They have done more than Fife, simply because they had more to do. The honour of having the highest annual valuation per acre in Scotland belongs to Lanark, but Fifeshire follows very closely. The total valuation of Fifeshire for 1874-75, exclusive of railways and royal burghs, is equal to no less than L.2, 2s. 6d. per acre, a fact that places the county in a position of which it may well be proud. Of course Fifeshire has great advantages by the valuable treasures of its rocks, but, after making all due allowance for the rental of minerals and manufactories, the county stands very high indeed in a purely agricultural point of view.

It is somewhat difficult to ascertain exactly what the rise of the rent of arable land has been during the past twenty-five years, but we think we are not far wrong in putting it down at 25 per cent. From 1850 to 1860 there was a large increase of rent on all farms, the rise in some cases amounting to as much as 50 per cent. This large and very sudden increase was attributable chiefly to the high price of grain and potatoes during the Crimean war. Almost every year, from 1853 to 1867, potatoes at some time during the season reached the high price of L. 5 per ton, and hence quite a potato mania arose in the county. Potato land was rushed after, and fabulous rents paid for it; and it is not too much to say that the step thus taken by a large number of the Fifeshire farmers was the most unprofitable step that has been attempted in the county during the last fifty years. Of this subject, however, more anon. Since 1860 the value of clay land has considerably decreased, owing to the low prices of grain for the crops of 1862, 1863, and 1864, and since the latter year to the increased cost of labour and other working expenses. One county agriculturist, whose opinion is entitled to much consideration, assures us that "there is no increase in the value of the rent of clay land as compared with the rents of 1850, but that the rent of good green crop land has increased 20 per cent.;" and we have met with several others who coincide in this opinion regarding the clay land. We could point, however, to several clay farms that have been slightly raised since 1850, but, speaking generally, the rise has not been large. In fact, much of the clay land was so highly rented previous to 1850 that very little more could be added without "rack" renting the tenants. During those few years that the Crimean war lasted the competition for farms was so excessive that not a few were induced to offer rents which they afterwards found themselves unable to pay, and thus deductions had to be made in several cases, some before one half of the lease was run. Had those fabulous prices that were paid for grain and potatoes betweenl853 and 1867 continued, even the very highest rented farm in the county would have proved a a most profitable speculation; but this could not have been expected, nor, in fact, was it to be desired. During the past ten years the increase in the rental in the Kirkcaldy district has been no less than L. 42,516, while in the St Andrews district the advance has been L.36,002. Manufactures and minerals have swelled the increase in the Kirkcaldy district considerably; but in the St Andrews district the rise is due almost entirely to an advance in the rental of farms.- The Dunfermline district, the great mining centre of the county, shows an increase of L.20,544, or about L.1500 more than the Cupar district.

Modern Farming.

The system of farming that obtains in Fife at the present day is, on the whole, of a most improved description, and is quite abreast of the times; but before proceeding to discuss the various farming customs, it may not be out of place to introduce a few loose notes on a tour which the writer made throughout the county. The starting point was Tayport, and the route—a waving one—along the outskirts, ending where it began. It was in the "head hurry" of the harvest, and all were busy in the fields. Cutting, a little more than half finished, was proceeding with great rapidity in every direction, the birring of the reaper being the prevailing sound. We visited several farms along our course, and saw much to interest and instruct, much to admire and little to find fault with. Close to Tayport, and situated on a slope looking south-west, is the fine farm of Scotscraig Mains. It is the property of Mrs Maitland Dougall of Scotscraig, is leased by Mr Peter Christie, extends to 502 acres, and is rented at L.1210, being a rise of about L.233 since 1864. Mr Christie, a gentleman of very extensive experience in the valuation and cultivation of land, works the mains on the seven-shift system of rotation, viz., 1st, oats; 2d, beans or potatoes, or more frequently part of both; 3d, wheat; 4th, turnips; 5th, barley; 6th, hay; and 7th, pasture. He breeds neither cattle nor sheep, but buys in large numbers of both for the grass, and feeds them off in winter with turnips and artificial food, of which latter commodity he uses an immense quantity. The soil on the most of this farm is strong loam, suitable for almost any kind of crop.

Leaving Scotscraig, and proceeding along the north coast in the direction of Newburgh, we pass through the parishes of Forgan, Kilmany, Balmerino, Creich, Dunbog, and Abdie, at the northwest corner of which Newburgh is situated. In Forgan, as all along this course, the soil is light but fertile. The principal farms in this parish are Newton and Kirktonbarns, the former of which extends to about 774 acres, and is leased by Mr George Ballingall, the rent being L.1139. Mr Carswell, the proprietor of the estate of Rathillet in Kilmany, holds the home-farm in his own hands. It extends to 643 acres, and is valued at L.1132. The fine valuable farm of Wester Kilmany is held by Mr Watt, and is rented at very close on L.3 per acre, or an increase of a little over 12s. during the past ten years. The parishes of Balmerino and Creich can boast of several extensive and very fine highly-cultivated farms, the larger ones being Fincraig and Pitmossie, extending to 450 acres; Peasemills, measuring 348 acres; Carphin and Lutherie, 645 acres; and Creich, 354 acres. The soil in the tract of land over which these farms extend is very variable, as will be inferred from the fact that the rents vary from L.l, 10s. to close on L.3 per acre. The little parish of Dunbog, through which we next pass, contains a few large farms, but none of them exceed L.2, 5s. per acre. The farm of Dunbar, leased by Mr John Ballingall, extends to about 735 acres, the rent being L.910. Besides this farm, Mr Ballingall holds several others, and pays in all between L.2400 and L.2500 of annual rent. He, like the majority of farmers in his neighbourhood, works his farms chiefly in seven shifts, but occasionally he takes three years' grass. He breeds and rears a large number of sheep, while he generally owns about forty cows. He feeds very extensively, and consumes upwards of L.1800 worth of cake every year. The soil in the parish of Abdie varies very much, some parts of it being excellent, and some light and very inferior. Perhaps the best farm in the parish or neighbourhood is Park-hill, a valuable holding situated close to the royal burgh of Newburgh. It extends to about 480 acres, and is rented at L.1420, or an advance of about 16s. per acre since 1864, the tenant being Mr A. W. Russell. Part of this farm lies on a low level, close on the banks of the Tay. The fields next the river were reclaimed less than fifty years ago, the present farmer remembering to have seen boats floating about where he now reaps abundant crops. The soil is chiefly alluvial clay, part of it being strong and deep. The rotation pursued on this level is eight shifts—1st, oats; 2d, potatoes or beans; 3d, wheat; 4th, potatoes or beans; 5th, wheat; 6th, turnips; 7th, barley; and 8th, grass. Turnips and beans grow well, while wheat and oats grow fairly, and barley very well. A considerable portion of the farm lies on a steep slope overlooking the Tay. The soil here is light loam and black earth, and the rotation five shifts— 1st, oats; 2d, turnips; 3d, barley; 4th and 5th, grass. Mr Russell rears about twenty-five calves from cross-cows and shorthorn bulls. He generally feeds about fifty head of cattle every winter, buying in stirks or two-year olds to supplement his own lot. An abundant supply of turnips is liberally backed up by cake, and in the month of December Mr Russell often sells at L.30 a-head. He is careful to buy in the best stock that can be had, but still it is very apparent that the animals of his own • rearing come out best in the feeding. Mr Russell has an excellent farm-steading supplied with covered courts, and the two-year olds are kept in the house all summer and fed on cut clover, the cows and stirks being grazed outside.

Taking the train at Newburgh we next land at Collessie, Passing on our way a number of large, carefully-cultivated farms. The parishes of Strathmiglo, Abernethy, Auchtermuchty, and Falkland, which lie on the west of the line, are very irregular on the surface and variable in soil, the predominating kind being light, friable, fertile loam. These parishes contain several very large farms, rented at from L. 1 to L. 1, 15s. per acre. Close to the Collessie Railway Station lies the compact valuable estate of Melville, belonging to Lady Elizabeth Melville Cartwright. Mr Cartwright (Lady Elizabeth's husband) is an enthusiastic, experienced agriculturist, and the estate is a model of regularity and system. Considerable improvement has been effected on the estate in various ways during the past twenty-five years. A large breadth of very fine wood was cut down, part of the land thus cleared being replanted and part reclaimed. One farm of 250 acres has been lined off and fenced. Of this, 100 acres were trenched at a cost of about L.6 an acre, and having been put into regular rotation, the farm was let to Mr Birrel for nineteen years at a rent of 15s. per acre for the trenched land, and 3s. per acre for the unreclaimed land, which is intended to be brought under cultivation immediately. Before the tenant entered a new dwelling-house and farm-steading were built. The land is so dry and porous that very little draining was required. Besides these improvements Mr Cartwright has just erected about 12,000 yards of very superior wire fencing. The posts and strainers are all unusually heavy and strong, while the wire is of the best galvanised plaited description. The wires are six in number, and are placed so as to keep in sheep. Mr Cartwright has also erected a number of very superior labourers' cottages throughout his estate, while at his home farm, which is under the able superintendence of his factor Mr Andrews, he has most successfully established a herd of polled cattle. Of the herd, however, more anon. Adjoining his magnificent gardens Mr Cartwright has a neat little nursery, into which he plants his young trees for a short time before planting them permanently. The plants are brought in at the usual stage for transplanting, but are put into the nursery for a short period to strengthen the rootlets, a system that is found to be most advantageous to the growth of the trees.

One of the principal farms on the Melville estate is Nisbetfield, a very carefully cultivated holding, lying in close proximity to Melville House, the ancient baronial residence of the Leven family. The tenant is Mr Archibald, and the rent about L.1, 7s. per acre, The soil generally is light loam, with a few spots of clay. In our route from Melville towards Cupar we pass a number of very excellent farms, large and well cultivated. In the parishes of Dairsie and Kemback there are a few as fine farms as can be seen anywhere in the county. About the centre of the latter parish, and close to Dura Den— that classical spot so famous among geologists—lies the valuable little estate of Blebo, the property of Mr Bethune, an agriculturist of great enthusiasm, untiring energy, and considerable experience. Mr Bethune works the home farm himself, and pursues a most advanced system of farming. The soil is partly strong heavy clay, and partly deep able black loam. He cultivates at a great depth, chiefly by steam, and manures well, raising magnificent crops of all kinds, especially barley. He believes in Mr Lawes' system of continuous barley growing, and intends giving it a trial. The climate here is exceedingly mild and genial, and with such fertile soil and good seed almost every grain of seed that is sown germinates and produces a rich return. In 1873 he sowed one field with only one and a-half bushels of barley, and had a very heavy crop yielding seven quarters per acre, while last spring he sowed another with two bushels, the crop of which happened to be in process of being cut when we visited Blebo. It was extremely heavy, all laid, as thick on the ground as it could well stand, and had the appearance of yielding from seven and a-half to eight quarters per acre. Very fine crops of turnips and beans are also grown here, while last year Mr Bethune had a small field of carrots which yielded about six tons per acre, the price obtained for the ton being L.6. Another small field was put under carrots last spring, but they have not done quite so well, though they will yet afford a fair return. The finely sheltered situation and the picturesque wooded policies of Blebo fit it specially well for the rearing of stock, and Mr Bethune has been well known for a number of years as a breeder of shorthorns, while he breeds a few sheep and also rears or buys and feeds a large lot of excellent cross cattle. The herd of shorthorns merits more than a mere passing notice ; but this will be done when speaking of stock generally.

The scenery around Blebo is magnificent, the view from the handsome mansion-house being one of the finest to be had in the county. The Mains of Blebo, which adjoins the home farm, is leased and very carefully cultivated by Mr Rintoul. The farm-steading is large, commodious, and very convenient, and has admirably well-constructed close courts. At the farm of Todhall occupied by Mr Bell, and situated about four miles east from Cupar, one of the finest farm-steadings, not only in Fife but even in Scotland, is to be seen. It was erected some ten years ago by the proprietor, Mr Cheape, and when it is mentioned that the cost was about L. 8000, some idea will be had of its character. At the farm of Rumgally, belonging to Mr Welch, and also in this neighbourhood, there is another very superior steading with roofed courts, though it is not quite such an extensive one as that at Todhall. Leaving Cupar and retracing our steps a short distance by train, we find ourselves next in the parish at Kettle.

The farms at Ramornie and Balmalcolm, extending to 435 acres and rented at L.1084, form the principal holding in this neighbourhood, and are leased by one of the leading agriculturist of the county, Mr William Dingwall. The six-shift system, so general in the best grain-producing districts of the county, is the rotation pursued by Mr Dingwall, but we understand that he contemplates changing into seven shifts, taking two years' grass instead of one as at present. The soil on these farms is partly heavy retentive clay, partly light loam, and partly sand, and some parts moss. The heavy clay and moss were troublesome to cultivate, and difficult to " make," so as to allow the braird to come away properly, and some fourteen years ago Mr Dingwall drove quicksand on to these parts, mixing the clay and moss and the sand together. A whole field was gone over in this way, about 1000 loads being spread on every acre, and now the land, formerly yielding indifferently, produces excellent crops of all kinds. The experiment was a pretty expensive one, but Mr Dingwall expects to be fully repaid for his outlay in a few years. He intends breeding a number of cattle as soon as he can turn his farms into seven shifts, but for many years he has raised only a few.

His cows are Galloways, or first crosses between Galloways and shorthorns, and his stock bulls are carefully selected from the best shorthorn herds of the day, Mr Cruickshank, Sittyton, being frequently patronised. The calves are suckled and fed off as two-year olds, when an average price of L.28 is generally obtained. Mr Dingwall feeds liberally with turnips and cake, of which latter commodity he consumes a very large quantity—about L.500 worth every year. He takes parks in the grazing districts of the county, chiefly in the neighbourhood of the Lomonds, and buys in stirks or two-year olds to graze on them, but does not find the system a very remunerative one. He thinks that the more profitable system would be to graze on his own farm. He, like a large number of Fifeshire farmers, buys in half-bred hogs, and feeds them on grass, turnips, and cake. He seldom sows beans, but plants a considerable breadth of potatoes every year, and averages a return for the market of four, five, to six tons per acre, the refuse being given to the cattle. Oats range from five to seven quarters, barley from four to six, and wheat from three to five per acre. The farm-steadings are good, the cattle courts being covered, and very conveniently constructed. Mr Dingwall keeps seven pairs of horses, and allots about sixty-two acres to each pair. The farms of Ramornie and Balmalcolm were at one time very liable to flooding by the overflowing of a small winding stream; but a good deal of money has recently been spent in widening and deepening and embanking the course of the water by neighbouring proprietors and Mr Dingwall himself, and now no damage is suffered in this way. Proceeding a little further on, and passing a number of large farms, we next visit the home farm of Balbirnie, which the proprietor, Mr John Balfour of Balbirnie, holds in his own hands. It extends to 378 acres, and is valued at about L.1, 15s. per acre. The soil is strong and a little stiff, while the climate is colder than in many parts of the county. Very few cattle are bred here, or indeed on the whole estate, the majority of the farmers preferring to buy in feeders to rearing them at home. A few shorthorns are bred at Balbirnie, while at Balfarg a superior Clydesdale stallion and a stud of mares are kept, Mr Balfour's tenants getting the service of the stallion if desired. This, as might have been expected, has manifestly improved the class of horses in the district, and Mr Balfour deserves much credit for his liberality. The improvements on Mr Balfour's estate during the past twenty-five years have consisted chiefly of draining and fencing, and in providing more accommodation for the consumption of turnips and straw than was required in the past century and in the first twenty-five years of the present, when only about five or six acres of turnips were grown on the largest farms in the county.

Taking the road once more, and proceeding in the direction of Dunfermline, that busy commercial town, famous as the burial-place of King Robert Bruce, we pass through the parishes of Kinglassie, Auchterderran, Ballingry, and Beath. The mining interest is very extensive in the district embracing these parishes; and as mines and agriculture seldom flourish equally together, it could not be expected that this would be the most valuable farming district of the county. Nevertheless there are a number of large and very carefully cultivated farms in these parishes. The soil is not of a very superior character, while the climate is only moderately good; and thus the rents are lower than in better favoured districts. A few of the farms are as high as L.2 per acre, but, on the other hand, a large number are not much beyond L.1. The principal farms in Kinglassie are Kininmouth, leased by Mr Blyth, and extending to 452 acres, and rented at L.650; East and West Pitteuchar, tenanted by Mr Gibb (who also holds Lochtybridge, a small farm of about 100 acres), and extending to 434 acres, the rent being L.874, or an advance of L.44 during the past ten years; and Fostertown, extending to 300 acres, and rented at L.442. The tenant of this latter farm, Mr Robert Hutchison, and his father, have by improvements at their own expense, raised its rent in little more than a hundred years from L.70 to the sum above stated. Mr Hutchison is a very careful, liberal farmer, and expends nearly double his rent in cake and manure every year. The farm of Dothan, in Auchterderran, measures 424 acres, and is rented at L..612; while the farm of Lumphinans in Ballingry extends to 803 acres, and is let at L.693. Hilton, in the parish of Beath, is rented at L.375, a few pounds less than in 1864, the extent being 460 acres.

Mr Henry Heggie leases a valuable holding of 300 acres at the south corner of Beath, known by the modern title of Mains of Beath. The soil is naturally good, and under five years' liberal treatment from Mr Heggie, has improved immensely. The farm is worked by four pairs of superior Clydesdale horses, the system of rotation being the six shifts. Mr Heggie cultivates carefully, and manures very heavily, and produces excellent crops of all kinds. His Swedish turnips this year are very superior. They are regular and very large, and look like affording a yield of from twenty-eight to thirty tons per acre, a yield which Mr Heggie has produced more than once. In addition to a large supply of farm-yard manure, they got six cwt. of artificial manure per acre, viz., 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda, 3 cwt. dissolved bones, and 2 cwt. bone meal. Mr Heggie keeps eight or ten very superior cross cows, and with these and a good shorthorn bull produces stock that invariably carries the places of honour at the Dunfermline Cattle Show. He was-first last two summers with two-year old cattle at this show, and had also some prizes for sheep of his own breeding. He buys in calves to feed, and sells them off when from sixteen to eighteen months old, at from L.21 to L.22. For two-year olds-bred by himself he has frequently received as much as L.36; while his hoggs generally bring about 50s. at the markets in early summer. The houses on the farm are good, but fences-are very deficient. He has drained a great deal at his own expense during the past five years, and has now got it into excellent order. A few miles further west, and we reach the thriving town of Dunfermline. In the parish which bears the name of this town there is a large number of very fine farms, though the Dunfermline district is equally as famous in the mining and manufacturing as in the agricultural world. In the immediate neighbourhood of the town there are several large holdings.

Little more than a mile north of the town lies the farm of Ballyeoman, occupied by Mr Henry Thompson. It extends to 212 acres, and is rented at L.329. The soil is composed of clay, of a strong adhesive character, and the system of rotation is the six shifts. Grain averages from five to six quarters, and weighs—barley, 55 lbs. per bushel; oats, 42 lbs.; wheat, 63 lbs.; and beans, 64 lbs. Mr Thompson cultivates well, ploughing stubble to the depth of about nine inches, and lea seven inches, and manures equally well. Tor turnips, he gives twenty tons farm-yard manure, three cwt. Peruvian guano, and two cwt. dissolved bones per acre; and for potatoes about twenty-five tons of farm-yard manure, without any artificial stuffs. He keeps a few cross cows, and rears calves from these and shorthorn bulls. He buys in a large number, however, sometimes Irish, and sometimes home-bred cattle. The homebred cattle, as with other farmers, invariably thrive best. Mr Thompson sells off his fat animals in the months of April, May, and June, and receives from L.26 to L.30 a-head. Sometimes from three to four score of sheep are wintered on the farm, and a good stock of excellent Clydesdale horses is kept. The houses and fencing are good. Since Mr Thompson entered the farm, a few years ago, he has effected extensive improvements at his own expense. He has made 2000 yards of road, erected a turnip shed, and two covered cattle courts; has cleared out 1000 yards of old hedging, in order to enlarge and square up fields; has planted some new hedges, built 1600 yards of stone and lime dykes, and drained about thirty acres of land. The drains were cut about three feet deep and sixteen feet apart.

Mr Thomas Crawford holds several farms in the neighbourhood of Dunfermline. He resides at Pitbauchlie, and is an experienced, careful farmer. The soil on his farms is mostly thinnish loam, with a clayey subsoil. On part of his holdings he pursues the six-shift system, but on a large portion he has no regular rotation. Wheat generally yields about four quarters per acre, barley five, oats six, beans four and a-half, turnips twenty tons, and potatoes eight tons. He manures heavily, giving twenty-five tons of farm-yard manure and four cwt. of guano, or dissolved bones, per acre for potatoes, and fifteen tons farm-yard manure, with three cwt. dissolved bones and two cwt. of guano, for turnips. He breeds no cattle, but buys in a great many, partly to graze and partly to winter. About the autumn he usually buys in a number of half-bred ewes, and takes a crop of lambs off them, feeding both the ewes and the lambs, and sending them to the markets. He also buys in a few half and three-parts bred lambs towards the fall of the year, and feeds the latter on turnips, while the half-breds are kept for grazing the following summer. His farms are well-stocked with strong young Clydesdale horses. The fences and houses are bad, but the drains are in good order, having all been renewed by Mr Crawford at his own expense. He farms very differently from almost all his neighbours, inasmuch as he grows very little hay, and keeps a large portion of his land in pasture for three, four, and five years. In the parishes of Carnock, Saline, and Torryburn the soil, though not heavy, is friable and fertile, and the farms are generally in a high state of cultivation. The system followed is very much in accordance with that already noticed on such farms as Ballyeoman and Mains of Beath.

Turning southwards from Dunfermline, and proceeding towards Inverkeithing, we pass through a highly fertile valley, known as the "Laich of Dunfermline." It bends down to a very low elevation, part of it being only about seventeen feet above the level of the sea. In this valley Cromwell is said to have fought one of his many battles, and in the process of cutting drains, several horse shoes were dug up from a depth of three or four feet, and it is affirmed that these shoes belonged to the horses ridden by followers or enemies of this immortal warrior. The farm of Backmarch, lying in this valley, and extending to about 230 acres, is tenanted by Mr Mitchell. It is worked in six shifts, and its soil is chiefly strong adhesive clay, some parts being strong black loam. Mr Mitchell grows excellent crops of beans and good crops of potatoes, while oats and barley grow fairly. Turnips were usually very subject to damage by " finger and toe," but last season he tried an experiment which has proved an entire remedy. When the field on which the turnips were sown last spring was in grass, he spread a slight doze of slack lime over it, and the turnips show no signs of disease, which he attributes entirely to the action of the lime.

Within the memory of some of the oldest inhabitants, a large stretch of the Laich was lying in a swampy, spongy, unhealthy state; but now it is comparatively dry, and is one of the best cultivated parts of the county. Mr Mitchell has redrained a good deal of the farm during the past few years ; but still a few patches are in want of better drainage. In some of the more retentive parts of "the farm, there are only about fifteen feet between the drains, and still the soil is not thoroughly dry. No pick is required in cutting the drains, and a three-feet drain can be dug at 2s. per chain. Almost all the old drains were laid with stones, but tiles are universally used now. The rents of a few farms in this neighbourhood have been tripled since 1800, and doubled since 1830. Proceeding by Inverkeithing along the coast to the picturesque little village of Aberdour, we pass a number of extensive and very highly cultivated farms. On the large and valuable estate of the Earl of Moray, in the parishes of Dalgety, Aberdour, Beath, and Auchtertool, numerous and very expensive improvements in the way of fencing, draining, and building have been effected during the past twenty-five years. A few acres of new land have been added to two or three farms in the parish of Beath; but the total acreage reclaimed since 1850 is not by any means large.

The road from Aberdour to Burntisland winds along the coast through most charming wooded scenery, forming one of the most delightful walks to be had, even in the picturesque county of Fife, and during the summer and autumn months is the favourite saunter of many hundreds of holiday seekers, who crowd the rising little town of Burntisland. The soil on a good deal of the land around Aberdour, and running down to the Firth of Forth, is not by any means heavy, but it is friable and very fertile. The farms of Dallachy and Balram form the principal holding in the parish of Aberdour. They extend to about 600 acres, and are rented at L.1253, the tenant being Mr Thomas Cunningham. The greater portion of the farm of Dallachy consists of strong fertile soil, while on Bal-ram the land is chiefly thin loam. The heavy land is worked in seven shifts, with two years' grass, while the light land is worked in five shifts, one green crop, two grain crops, and two years grass. Dallachy produces excellent crops, barley sometimes yielding as much as eight quarters per acre, the average being about seven. Barley generally weighs from 53 lb to 56 lb per bushel, wheat about 64 lb, and oats from 42 lb to 44 lb. It is very seldom that much grain is lost here by bad harvests, but in 1872 Mr Cunningham sustained a loss of more than a year's rent by wet weather. Turnips grow well, and have never been finer than this season. The farm-steading is good, while the dwelling-house is excellent. Mr Cunningham recently commenced to rear calves from Galloway cows and shorthorn bulls, and as yet the experiment has been satisfactory.

Moving a little further on we come to the highly cultivated farm of Newbigging. It extends to 280 acres, and is leased by Mr Prentice, who holds besides it the farm of Balbairdie, extending to 350 acres, and situate in the parish of Kinghorn; of Bankhead, also measuring 350 acres, and situate in the same parish; and Balgreggie, extending to 130 acres, and situate in Auchterderran. Newbigging is all arable, and grows very fine crops. This year there are 25 acres under wheat, 82 under barley, 26 under oats, 25 under potatoes, 20 under turnips, and 25 under hay. The remainder is so hilly that it is left lying in grass, and cultivated only when the pasture gives way. Most of this farm is on limestone rock, part of it being heavy clay and part fine friable turnip and barley land. Newbigging is situated close to the Grange distillery, from which Mr Prentice obtains large quantities of draff, which enables him to keep about 100 cattle and 300 sheep every winter. This gives him such a command of manure that he can grow almost any sort of crop without strictly abiding by any fixed system of rotation. Balbairdie is mostly heavy land, and here Mr Prentice has a breeding stock of half-bred ewes, and keeps the outside land in grass as long as possible. Four pairs of horses are employed in cultivating this farm, the system of rotation being—1st, oats or barley; 2d, turnips; 3d, barley or wheat; and 4th and 5th, hay and pasture. Bankhead is all fine haugh land, lying on trap rock. With the exception of a hilly field, which is kept a year or two longer in pasture than the rest, the whole of this farm is worked in seven shifts—1st, oats; 2d, potatoes; 3d, wheat; 4th, turnips; 5th, barley; 6th, hay; and 7th, pasture. Barley and oats yield from 5 to 8 quarters per acre, while wheat gives about 5 quarters. The return of potatoes ranges from 7 to 8 tons per acre. The lea is ploughed 8 inches deep, and broken up as soon as possible in March, and sown by a drill machine with 2½ bushels per acre on the best land and with 3½ on the inferior land. Mr Prentice generally manures his turnips with a mixture of artificial manure entirely, but when farm-dung can be had he gives about 12 tons to the acre. Most of the potato land is manured on the stubble with 20 tons farm-yard manure, ploughed to as great a depth as possible, and seasoned with from 3 cwt. to 4 cwt. of guano and dissolved bones at the time of planting. The stubble land is generally ploughed 10 inches deep, and when the land is steep it is ploughed downhill, the depth of the furrow being about 12 inches. Balbairdie has all been limed and drained within the past twenty years at the expense of Mr Prentice, who has also expended a large sum on buildings.

The farm of Balgreggie lies 10 miles inland, and is all under grass. A large number of the cattle required for feeding in winter are grazed here, which saves Mr Prentice from the necessity of buying in all his winter's stock at one time. The farm of Grange, adjoining Newbigging, and close to the town of Burntisland, is leased by Mr Walls, and is worked in six shifts. Mr Walls usually keeps about 24 cows, and rears their calves, buying in stirks to supplement the winter's stock at from L.14 to L.15 a head. When fat these animals are generally sold at from L.20 to L.28. The soil is good, and good grain and green crops are raised. About 200 hoggs are usually wintered on the farm, and fed or sold off lean as the state of the markets may determine. Leaving Burntisland and proceeding eastwards, through an extremely fertile border of land facing the Firth of Forth, we rest a little at Kirkcaldy, around which there are several very fine farms. In the parish of Kinghorn, which we have just passed, lies one of the best managed little properties in the county, that belonging to Mr William Drysdale of Kilrie. Mr Drysdale is a spirited agriculturist, and feeds a lot of very fine cattle, not a few of which do him much credit in the Christmas and other fat shows. The system of farming pursued in the Kirkcaldy district is almost identical with that already described on seaside farms, and therefore we need not waste time or space in detailing it. In the parishes of Wemyss, Scoonie, and Largo the farms are very variable in size. The soil is also variable, and rents range from L.1, 5s. to L.2, 10s. per acre.

One of the finest farms in Largo is Buckthorns, occupied by Mr Beveridge. The soil is principally rich loam and fertile clay, and heavy crops both of grain and roots are grown. On a field on this farm we saw when passing as fine a crop of oats as we have ever seen anywhere. Inland, a few miles from Largo, principally in the parishes of Ceres, Cults, and Kettle, lie the valuable estates of the Earl of Glasgow. These estates are under the able and efficient supervision of Mr M'Leod, banker, Kirkcaldy (brother to the late celebrated Dr Norman M'Leod), who acts as factor in Fifeshire for the noble Earl. Since 1850 the rental of these estates for farms alone has increased by about L.1700, while the revenue to the landlord from limeworks has advanced from L.318 to L.900 during the same period. The limestone is of the white variety, and when burned produces lime of very superior quality. The demand for it is yearly increasing, large quantities being exported out of the county. , Extensive improvements have been effected of late in the way of draining and building, and though the rise in the rental is pretty high, yet it does not afford a fair return for the landlord's outlay. There is much need for more fencing on these as on all other estates in the county, but the buildings generally are good; and arrangements have been (or are being) made for the erection of several new steadings and cottages. On some parts the soil is strong clay and on others light loam. The five-shift rotation obtains for most part, only a very small breadth of potatoes being grown.

Continuing our eastern course, and as we approach the famous "East Neuk," we enter, perhaps, the finest agricultural district of the county. The land all over the East Neuk, though a little strong and retentive in some parts, is sure and very productive, and is rented at high figures, some of it as much as L.4 and L.5 per acre. One small patch, in fact, brings in to its fortunate proprietor the enormous and almost unequalled rent of about L.8 per acre. The estates of Balcarres, belonging to Sir Coutts Lindsay, Bart; of Balcaskie, the property of Sir B. Anstruther, Bart., M.P.; Kilconquhar, belonging to Sir John Bethune, Bart.; of Charleton, the property of Mr J. A. Thomson; Gilston, belonging to the heirs of the late Mr Baxter; and Gibliston, belonging to Mrs Gillespie Smyth, and situated chiefly in the parishes of Kilconquhar, Elie, Abercrombie, and Carnbee, are under the experienced hand of Mr Flockhart, banker, Colinsburgh. The improvements on these estates during the past twenty-five years have consisted chiefly of draining and building, and the sum expended in this way on the various estates during that period has been about L.42,000. The soil varies from thin clay to rich alluvial land, and is rented at from 17s. 6d. to L.4 per acre. The increase of rent since 1850 has been on an average about 20 per cent., a few farms having risen as much as 50 per cent., while others have not advanced any. The houses are generally in good order and suitable for the farms, but with a few exceptions fencing has been neglected. The farms are generally well supplied with cottages, and "bothies" are now few and far between, the majority of the servants being married. The general system of cropping is the six-course shift, viz., 1st, oats; 2d, potatoes, beans, or turnips (or fallow); 3d, wheat; 4th, turnips; 5th, barley; and 6th, hay. Very few cattle or sheep are bred on these estates, but a very large number of both are bought in and fed, the sheep eating the turnips off the light land.

Approaching nearer to the Neuk we come upon a number of large very fine farms, almost all of which are worked similarly to those on the estates just referred to. A belt of land along the coast is rented at from L.3 to L.5 per acre, while about two miles inland it falls to about L.2 or L.2, 10s., and other four miles inland to from L1l, 10s. to L.2. Few cattle are bred in the East Neuk, though a large number are bought in and fed. Along the coast wheat generally yields 4½ to 6½ quarters per acre, and three or four miles inland, from 3 to 5 quarters; barley on the coast, from 5 to 8, and three miles inland, 3½ to 5½; and oats on the coast, from' 6 to 9. and three miles inland, from 4½ to 7 quarters. Wheat on the coast usually weighs from 61 lb to 63 lb; barley from 54 lb to 57 lb; and oats from 42 lb to 43 lb; the difference inland being about 2 lb in each case. The farm of Balcomie, close to Fife Ness, is occupied by Mr George Downie. It extends to about 297 acres, and is rented at L.1045, 10s., being an increase of about 40 per cent. since 1864. The soil on this farm close to the shore is easy green crop land, specially well adapted for potatoes, while about two fields' breadth inland it is able heavy land, well adapted for wheat. The farm is worked on six shifts. Wheat averages a return of about 5 quarters per acre, barley 8 quarters, and oats 7 quarters. For Swedish turnips Mr Downie usually gives about 20 tons farm-yard manure, and 5 cwt. guano per acre; and for yellows a heavy doze of seaweed or 15 tons of farm-yard manure, with 2 or 3 cwt. of guano. The potato land is dunged before being ploughed out of stubble, with about 25 tons farm-yard manure per acre, or where seaweed can be had in sufficient quantity it is applied instead of the dung. Mr Downie and his son hold two farms in the west of Fife, both of which are under grass and stocked with blackfaced sheep. Very few cattle are reared; at Balcomie, but a large number are bought in and fed. Between the East Neuk and St Andrews the soil varies a little, but is on the whole very good, and is particularly well cultivated.

Mr Duncan of Kinkell is perhaps the largest farmer in the county. He has been a farmer for a great many years, and has been singularly successful, being now the possessor of the valuable little estate of Kinkell, in the parish of St Andrews, and the tenant of some three or four farms from other landlords in this part of the county. The annual value of the land he farms is considerably upwards of L.5000. His brother, Mr Duncan, the tenant of the farm of Pusk, in the parish of Leuchars, is also well known as an enthusiastic experienced farmer. He feeds a very large number of cattle every year, using an immense quantity of cake and other feeding stuffs. He farms very liberally, and grows excellent grain and green crops. Mr Reid, Cruvie, is another very prominent farmer. His holding is situate in the parish of Logie, extends to 526 acres, is rented at L.1031; and he displays much care and experience in its cultivation and general management. Mr Reid has a promising little herd of shorthorns, but it will be noticed afterwards. Leaving the village of Leuchars and proceeding towards Tayport we pass over "Tents Moor," an extensive level tract of land covered up with sand, and almost useless for all agricultural purposes. Tayport is reached, and we are now at the end of our tour, a tour which, though accomplished hurriedly, has been both interesting and instructive. And we would fain hope that our hasty notes, imperfect though they be, will not be altogether devoid of interest to others.

Farming customs generally must now be noticed. The duration of leases is almost universally 19 years. There are a few longer, a few shorter, and a few life leases; but fortunately this latter period of tenure is now seldom, very seldom granted. Martinmas is the usual term of entry. The first half-year's rent is payable at the term of Whitsunday after reaping the first crop, and the second half at Lammas thereafter, eighteen and twenty-one months after entry. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but only a few; and on the whole the system must be regarded as quite satisfactory to the tenant.

In the matter of land apportionment Fifeshire is almost all that could be desired. The following table shows the number of holdings in the county of various sizes from under 5 to above 100 acres:—

Compared with the other counties in Scotland, Fifeshire stands eighth on the list of farms above 100 acres, twenty-fourth of farms between 20 and 100 acres, and sixteenth of holdings below 20 acres. The percentage of holdings below 20 acres is 45, above 20 and not exceeding 100 acres 19, above 100 acres 36. It will thus be seen that the holdings above 100 acres are in the majority, but the scale of increase in size from 5 to 100 acres is very gradual, while the number of small crofts is neither too large nor too small, the county being as near as might be in the centre of the other thirty-two Scotch counties in this respect. Of the 808 farms above 100 acres there are only 39 above 500 acres, the large majority being between 250 and 350 acres. As in most other Scotch counties a good many farmers hold two or three, and perhaps four pretty large farms. It is very seldom, however, that two farms, though leased by one man, are run together, but are judiciously kept as separate holdings.

The system of rotation varies a good deal; but in by far the majority of cases, especially in the best arable districts, the six-shift course obtains, viz.:—

1. Oats.
2. Potatoes or Beans, or both.
3. Wheat.
4. Turnips.
5. Barley, and
6. Hay or Pasture.

This quick continuous succession of grain crops is necessarily very trying to the land, and also heavy on the labour and manure bills; and on these and various other grounds we would decidedly prefer the seven-shift course—i.e., two years' grass instead of one. It is said (and probably with some degree of truth) that the soil of Fifeshire does not suit grass, and (which is more doubtful) that it is much too highly rented to admit of its being kept two years under pasture, or one year hay and another pasture. But were the land thoroughly limed and sown out in good condition or not so much exhausted during the rotation, we are pretty certain (in fact we have had substantial proof of it) that grass would grow at least moderately, except perhaps on a few of the very strongest clay farms. And as to the financial part of the question, we are still more confident that the substitution of the seven shifts for the six would be a most advantageous change. Besides putting the land into a better and richer condition, we are satisfied that this system of rotation would yield a larger return to the tenant at the end of say two courses, or fourteen years. In fact, not a few hold that at end of even one rotation it would show larger profits. Its advantages over the six-shift course are many and various. As already hinted, less manure and less labour, two of the most important items of the farmer's expenditure, would be required, while it would enable farmers to keep a larger number of cattle and sheep during summer. As matters presently stand, only a few, a very few, cattle and sheep can be grazed in the county. In fact, one might travel for miles through some districts during the summer months and not see a single animal of the cattle and sheep species, excepting perhaps a few cows which are kept at each farm to supply milk, and a few "pet" ewes and lambs which run about the houses. A large portion of the field sown out with grass seeds is left under hay, and hence it is only in the higher lying and inland parts where several farmers take two years' grass that any grazing can be had. It is argued by many farmers, that while their land continues to be rented at its present figure they cannot afford to employ it, or any part of it, in the rearing of stock; in short, that the only way in which they can make a profitable overturn of their money is to raise the greatest possible quantity of grain and potatoes. Though the majority argue thus, a good many take a different view of the matter.

One of the leading agriculturists of the county with whom we happened to be discussing the question said, " It appears to me that it would be profitable to breed more cattle. There are a great many cattle fed, but I am of opinion that it would be more profitable to the farmer to breed a larger and feed a small number of cattle." That it would be advisable to lessen the number of cattle fed we are scarcely prepared to say; but it seems perfectly clear that it would be profitable to breed more, and at any rate graze a great many more than at present, and that not only of cattle but also sheep. When cattle can be reared to realise from L.28 to L.30 a-head when twenty-four months old, it is not very easy to understand how cattle-breeding would not be a profitable undertaking to the Fifeshire farmers. The figures stated are not by any means beyond the general run of prices for good two-year olds; and when an animal can produce L.28 for twenty-four months' keep, it must be admitted that that animal affords a very handsome return for the outlay upon it. Of course the expense of maintaining its mother must be deducted, but even then the return is a large one. We take it for granted that the value of the cow's milk, beyond the nursing of her own calf, would meet the interest of the money lying on her, and perhaps part, if not all, of the loss by "tear and wear." We do not deny that by buying in cattle instead of rearing them himself a farmer can make more money by the transaction "pure and simple," at least so long as he can purchase good stirks in the months of August and September at from L.16 to L.18 a-head and sell them off in March or April at from L.26 to L.28. But the various advantages arising to a farm by the keeping of a herd of cows are worthy of consideration, and taking everything into account, we are decidedly of opinion that it would be highly remunerative for the Fifeshire farmers to breed at least one-half of their stock themselves. Undoubtedly close and careful attention require to be paid to a breeding stock, but they are worthy this trouble.

We do not think that it is at all desirable that a farmer should be entirely dependent upon the autumn or indeed any markets for a "fill" to his feeding-stalls; and at the present day Fifeshire may be said to be entirely dependent on the outer world for the stock it requires during winter—a very large stock it is. It seems somewhat strange that the "Kingdom of Fife," so independent and self-supporting in so many respects, should be entirely at the mercies of the outside world for cattle and sheep to consume its turnips and straw. Yet "true it is; and pity 'tis, 'tis true." A very large majority of the cattle introduced are Irish, and hence the county is continually kept in a state of disease, often from both pleuro-pneumonia and "foot and mouth." During the past few years several farmers who kept no cows before, except what were required for milk, have commenced to rear a number of calves, while we hear of a good many more who are contemplating the same course; and we feel pretty certain that before another quarter of a century is past the breeding stocks of Fifeshire will not be counted by scores but by hundreds, and that the Irishman's sway of the markets of that county will become a thing of the past.

Every year since 1853, when the Crimean war raised the price of potatoes to from L.4 to L.5 per ton, a very large breadth of land has been put under this esculent; and considering that the crop, taking an average of a rotation, is now the opposite of a remunerative one, it seems a little surprising that so many should have stuck to it so long. Had the price remained even at L.4 per ton the crop would still have been a profitable one; but now that the price has been reduced by nearly one half, and that labour, of which potatoes require so much, has been nearly doubled since 1853, the balance sheet for the potato held presents a very different appearance. Now every acre of potatoes costs the farmer about L.12, and on an average of say six years very little more is realised in the market. With few exceptions farmers themselves admit that the potato crop does not pay; some say it is the worst paying crop in the rotation; while one county agriculturist of very extensive experience declares that, in his opinion, the potato mania which arose in 1853 "has been a curse to the country." The crop, however, has many things-to be advanced in its favour. It is peculiarly a speculative crop, and certainly affords a very large return in some seasons. It also prepares the land specially well for wheat, and perhaps on this account, more than any other, it is still retained in the rotation by a great many farmers. Rather than run the risk of losing-money by planting potatoes, a good many farmers have of late been leaving part of their second shift under "fallow." This enables them to cultivate and clean the land thoroughly, giving labour to the servants during the slack season, and resting the land so as to ensure an extra crop of wheat the following year, a consideration which is often more important than the small profit that might be realised from a potato crop. Potatoes necessarily extract much of the richest substance of the soil, and it is generally the case that after a good crop of potatoes comes a bad,, or a moderate crop of wheat, and after a bad crop of potatoes a good crop of wheat. Other farmers divide their second shift between potatoes and beans, putting potatoes in the one half the one rotation and in the other half the next; while a few add turnips, and work in a similar way with the trio.

The time and mode of cultivation in Fifeshire correspond very closely to the time and mode of cultivation in most other counties in the south of Scotland. The whole of the land intended for cropping, with the exception of the portion under turnips, is ploughed in the autumn or winter, the depth of the lea furrow varying from 5 to 8 inches, and that of the stubble from 8 to 12 inches. The turnip land or clean ground is ploughed as early as practicable in the spring, while the fields intended for turnips and potatoes are in some cases scarified or cross ploughed or grubbed during the winter, thus giving the frost full play upon the soil. Weeds are generally plentiful, but, as a rule, great care is taken to clean the land well. Rolling stones or surface boulders were never very abundant, and what did exist have long ago been driven to the edges of the fields or utilised in drains and fences. As will be inferred from the stiff nature of much of the land, and the depth to which it is ploughed, the Fifeshire soil is heavy on horses; strong Clydesdales are generally kept, and, on an average, only about 60 acres are allotted to each pair—a small breadth compared with several of the other counties of Scotland. On the lighter soils a pair of horses sometimes work as much as 80 acres; but taking the county as a whole, the average is not much above what we have stated. The farmers of Fifeshire cultivate their soil with no niggard hand. They manure liberally and cultivate carefully; and, in fact, spare neither pains nor expense to bring the utmost out of their holdings. Artificial manures are used very extensively, and have been so for a considerable number of years. while an immense quantity of the very best of farm-yard manure is made every year and all spread on the land.

Fifeshire stands almost unrivalled with respect to the implements employed in the cultivation of its soil. All the most improved farm implements of the day are in use in Fifeshire, while manual labour is economised to the utmost possible degree. Double furrow ploughs are worked on several farms, but are not generally approved of. The single and drill ploughs, however, have all the modern improvements. Iron harrows are used almost exclusively, while the sowing and reaping of the grain crops are accomplished by machinery on nearly every farm above 50 acres, and many even below that. Steam is the prevailing power in thrashing the grain, there being also a good many water and horse-mills in the county. A number of portable thrashing-mills traverse the county, and are extensively employed. In a large majority of cases the thrashing-mills are fitted up with apparatuses for thoroughly preparing the grain for the bags, while a great many also convey it to the granary.

Steam Cultivation.

We know of very few counties in Scotland better suited for cultivation by steam than Fifeshire. Leaving out a few of the higher lying parts, and the parts most cut up by collieries and other mineral operations, almost the whole of the remainder of the county might be cultivated by steam. The surface, though a little undulating, is seldom steep, and the fields are generally pretty large and conveniently shaped. No stones (at least if there are any, they are few and far between) would interrupt the course of the tackle, while the advantages which the soil of the county would derive from steam cultivation would be very important indeed. It is admitted on all hands that steam cultivation, wherever properly managed, has had an extremely beneficial effect on the soil; and it is on such soil as that of Fifeshire that its influence would be felt the most. The soil of Fifeshire, as a rule, requires deep cultivation, and much of it being very stiff and adhesive, horses are severely tried in working it. Though it has not yet been used very extensively, steam-power has been employed less or more on a number of farms in the county for several years. The Scottish Steam Cultivation Company has always two, and often three tackles working in the county, while two or three private tackles are also employed. Mr Rintoul of Lawhill works one tackle on his own estate, and the Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie of Leslie purchased an 8-horse power steam tackle that was exhibited at the Highland and Agricultural Society's Show at Glasgow last summer ; while we understand that Mr T. L. M. Cartwright of Melville has arranged to get a similar one. The Scottish Steam Cultivation Company is fortunate in having for its Fifeshire representative Mr Bethune of Blebo, a gentleman who has long advocated the desirability of the adoption of steam cultivation, and who himself adopts it so far as is practicable. He is one of the directors of the company, and takes a very lively interest in everything pertaining to its welfare and to the advancement of the great cause it seeks to promote. The company's tackles employed in Fifeshire are under the able management of Mr Gilchrist, Carvenom, Anstruther— a careful systematic farmer, with extensive experience in steam cultivation.

Buildings, Roads, Fences, and Drains.

Buildings.—As already hinted, Fifeshire stands pre-eminent in the matter of houses of all kinds. The dwelling-houses of the farmers, with a few exceptions, are of the first order. They are generally large and conveniently constructed, while with respect to architectural appearance, many of them are very handsome. As already stated, the number of proprietors' houses is very large, and of these by far the majority are very handsome structures, surrounded by most magnificent gardens. It is not to the landlords' residences alone, however, that the fine gardens are confined. They are to be found all over the country, almost every inhabited house, even the majority of the smallest cottages of the labourers being encircled by their fruitful gardens. The climate of the county is extremely favourable for the growth of fruit, and the crop of fruit of all descriptions which some of these neat little gardens produce in a year is perfectly marvellous. House accommodation for agricultural labourers and working people generally is now almost all that could be desired, the improvement that has been effected in this matter during the past thirty or forty years having been very great indeed. With a very few exceptions, the whole of the farms in the county are supplied with servants' cottages, and the deficiency that still exists is speedily becoming less. The houses of the labouring classes in the many towns and villages which are dotted over the county are also of a superior character, and are gradually being improved where improvement is necessary. The general character of the farm-steadings in the county is very good indeed. They are mostly all large and commodious, a great many of them having been erected since 1850. On almost all the large farms, and on many of the smaller holdings, the cattle courts are covered, or at least partially so. The advantages of a commodious convenient farm-steading are now fully recognised on every estate, and it is a special aim both of landlord and tenant to provide this great desideratum. The value of covered courts has also been fully established, and no farm-steadings are erected now-a-days without them. We do not think that it is beneficial to have the courts wholly covered, and in by far the majority of cases in Fifeshire only about one-half of the court is under roof. The many and various advantages of these covered courts are already so well known to all interested in any way in agricultural matters, that it would be needless to enumerate them here, suffice it to say, that without doubt they form the most valuable of all the modern improvements in the construction of farm-buildings. So far back as 1850, covered cattle courts were to be found in Fifeshire; one, the first in the county if we mistake not, having been erected at Blebo home farm about twenty-six years ago.

Roads.—The county is particularly well supplied with roads. At an early period of the county's history the principal public thoroughfares were very good, and of late they have been considerably improved, while the mileage has been greatly increased. Accommodation roads, generally speaking, are excellent; while almost every corner of the county is particularly well supplied. There are seven road trusts in the county, and the total annual income usually amounts to close on L.11,000, while the expenditure is generally very nearly as large; the roads being kept in excellent repair. Tolls still exist in the county.

Fences.—Fifeshire being so exclusively a grain-growing and so little a grass-producing county, it could not be expected that fencing would form one of the leading features of its agricultural development. Not only, however, does it not form a leading feature, it is one of the most neglected branches in farming; in fact, we think that there is no matter whatever connected with the agriculture of Fife which calls so loudly for improvement as fencing. A few farms are undoubtedly well fenced—two or three completely enclosed—but, speaking of the county generally, there is a great and a much-felt want of fences. King fences, or fences which separate farms, are pretty complete in most parts, but on a very large majority of the farms of the county interior fences are almost entirely wanting, or at least are very partially provided. In the grazing districts of the county fences are pretty plentiful, but in the parts where the six-shift system of rotation obtains— and these parts represent by far the greater portion of the county —they are very scarce indeed. So few cattle and sheep being grazed in these last-mentioned parts, the want of fences of course presses much more lightly than it would otherwise do; but still it is felt and complained of too, and we doubt not but fencing will occupy a prominent place among the Fifeshire agricultural improvements of the immediate future. Thorough fencing is an inestimable boon to the farmer, and in fact is almost indispensable on a grazing farm. Of the fences which presently exist in Fife, wire predominates, but there are also a good many dykes and a considerable stretch of hedging. Whether for substantiality or shelter, hedging forms the best fence of all, and is being adopted much more largely now than formerly. A large number of farmers fence their grass fields with portable wire fences.

Drains.—The drainage of the county is in a most efficient state. The greater portion was very fairly drained many years ago; and during the past thirty or forty years the whole of the county has been thoroughly redrained; a good deal of it twice over. In many parts the subsoil is exceedingly retentive, and could not be thoroughly dried till perfectly "riddled" with drains. On several farms the drains are not more than from twelve to fourteen feet apart, and still all their "drawing" powers are