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LANDS OCCUPIED BY THE I'llOPIUETORS

PART II.

OF LANDS OCCUPIED BY THE PROPRIETOR.

A considerable proportion of the lands in Scotland , (pro-bably from one-fifteenth to one-twentieth part of what is ara-ble), is in the actual possession of the proprietors of thesoil. The amount varies in different estates. Landholders,whose properties are small, sometimes cultivate the whole 5whilst others, either occupy none, or retain only a very smallproportion. It is proposed briefly to explain, the variousmodes of occupying land, 1. By proprietors who have small;and, 2. By those who have considerable estates.

1. On the Occupation of land, by Proprietors of SmallEstates.

When proprietors of small estates follow no professionalemployment—are possessed of as much floating capital or readymoney as will enable them both to stock their lands in a pro-per manner, and also to defray the expence of their improve-ment ; and when they have a turn for agriculture, have beentrained to the practice of it, and are willing to submit to thesame industry and unwearied attention as if they paid rentfor their lands, they certainly may cultivate them to advantage.This has particularly been found to be the case, when a farmer,by his industry and economy, has been enabled to purchase asmall estate, and at the same time could command the capital ne-cessary for stocking and improving it. While his active powerswere not impaired by age, he could then farm his own landswith peculiar advantage, from his uniting skill, experience,