born clods as will not yield to the feeble wooden teeth. These teeth continually break or loosen from the head, so that the operator is frequently interrupted and impeded in his tedious work.

IARUNN-MOINE.

6. Iarunn-Moine,-Peat Spade.

This instrument is sufficiently good for the purpose

which it is meant to serve.

The head consists partly The last is formed so, that

of wood and partly of iron. with it the labourer will cut the peat of the size intended, at one push, out of the peat-moss, while another labourer throws the peat so cut, either with his hand or with a fork, on a dry spot of ground, as nigh the peat-pit as possible. Two men can cut and cast in a day peats sufficient for the consumption of their families a whole year.

On many of the isles no regular plan is followed in the cutting of peats; and accordingly the fuel is wasted, and the land is left damaged by the water, which a judicious mode of cutting the mosses would convey to the adjoining rivers, lakes, or sea: Proprietors and factors have hitherto paid little attention to this very important part of agriculture, as it may justly be termed, and have themselves to blame for the calamity now imminent over their estates, viz. extreme scarcity of fuel. Every peat-pit ought to serve at the same time two purposes, carrying off superfluous peat earth for fuel, and preparing the space occupied by such

peat

peat earth for yielding crops of potatoes, grass, and corn. Such pits should, therefore, always conduce to draining the soil, pulverizing the substratum, and levelling the surface of the ground.

Thrashing mills have lately been introduced in Islay, Collonsay, Gigha, Skye, &c. and will soon become general, in consequence of the vast saving of labour and of the economy which they afford. A small kind late-ly constructed under the auspices of the Highland Society of Edinburgh, and which cost only L.22, ought to be introduced on all the larger isles. We found a very good thrashing mill in Collonsay, which, however, is too expensive for universal use. It thrashed six bolls of oats in two hours with three horses. In Hungary we have seen the same quantity of grain occupy 4 men and 10 horses for 16 hours; and the work was not nearly so well performed as in Collonsay. It would be a great improvement to make them move by wind or by water, where the situation admits of it. Wind mills are no where to be seen, though the use of them is recommended by the plainest dictates of necessity and common sense.

In Islay we found a flour mill (the only one in the Hebrides,) which cost the proprietor L.1800 Sterling, and which will greatly help the introduction of wheat crops into that island.

There are very few lint mills in this district.Two occurred in Islay, and one is begun to be built in Skye. They must gradually be introduced in greater numbers for the accommodation of a country peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of flax.

We may conclude this section by stating, that any implements worth mentioning, which we met with in the Hebrides, excepting those already noticed, are imported from the east of Scotland, or are imitations of such as are in common use there; nor is it likely that this region shall soon lead the van in any agricultural improvements, or in the invention and adoption of agricultural implements.

CHAP.

CHAPTER VI.

INCLOSING.

THE various acts of the Scots Parliament relative to the division of common lands, and the appropriation of them by the conterminous proprietors, according to their valued rents, and other circumstances respectively, did not contain any obligation to inclose such lands, as was the case in England. The only species of inclosure, obligatory by law upon a Scotch landlord, is the march dyke, or fence, which separates one estate from another. The respective proprietors must pay each one half of the expence of such fence, which must be sufficient and straight.

Although inclosing is not binding upon the Hebridian proprietor, yet he will find it for his interest to pay most particular attention to that first of improvements. The isles are deplorably naked and open. None of them, excepting five or six of the more southerly, and a few farms in Skye, are furnished with any thing which

L 2

which merits the name of inclosure, and accordingly their agricultural state is miserably bad. In Arran, Islay, Jura, Mull, Skye, and the Long Island, there are about 800,000 acres of land totally destitute of fences of any kind, but which, by being properly inclosed, might, instead of their present average rent of twopence per acre, yield three shillings, or a clear gain of L.113,333. 6s. 8d. Sterling per annum.

The inconveniences endured by the Hebrides from the want of inclosures are so great, that the most spirited proprietors grant very high premiums to such of their tenants as build proper fences on their lands. Shawfield grants full melioration to every farmer on his Islay estate who builds a stone dyke or inclosure, and encourages by all the means in his power the complete subdivision and inclosing of that noble island. Without this improvement, indeed, nothing else need be attempted: neither corn nor grass can be secure from depredations, nor can green crops or any skilful and judicious rotation prosper.

The Galloway dyke, a species of inclosure commenced in 1720 in that southern district of Scotland, and now well known and much esteemed over this kingdom, is the most advisable for the Western Isles. It is from 5 feet to 5 feet 10 inches high, nearly 3 feet broad at the bottom, and gradually diminishing in breadth as it rises from the ground, till within 18 inches of the top. There it is usually 16 inches broad; and receives a projecting cope of flat stones, above which a number of loose stones are piled up, sloping like the ridge of a house, affording day-light in the interstices of the stones, and thus terrifying sheep and cattle from any. attempt