IN SCOTLAND.

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proved, or slieep-farming, on a large scale, introduced intothese districts, the whole surface will be occupied in several-ty-

4. Burgh-roods, or lands lying within the precincts ofburghs, were excepted from the obligation of dividing inthe acts, of Parliament above alluded to. Hence the moors,or uncultivated land, within the liberties of some of the small-er burghs, still continue undivided *. By far the greater partof such waste, or comparatively unproductive territory, has,however, been either feued or sold by the magistrates andtown-council of most of the burghs, or by other communitieswhich held property of this description : and in many places,such land, though of little value before it was divided and im-proved, is now let at from L. 3 to L. 5 per acre, and in somecases at even a higher rent. While these lands were held incommon, the inhabitants either carried off the surface forluel, or sent the half-starved cows of the burgh to pasture onthem, with but little, if any real advantage.

On the whole, the extent of land occupied in common, israpidly diminishing, and, it is to be hoped, that this modeof occupation will soon cease to exist.

* The burgh of F'ortrose, in Ross-shire, has a right of common on the wasteJands in the district called the Black Isle; and, on that account, a tract of greatextent, and very capable of improvement, still remains in a state of nature.