17* LANDS OCCUPIED BY THE PROPRIETORS

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farm, without incurring much unnecessary expence; whereasa judicious farmer, with more attention and economy, can ac.complish the same,—or nearly as much improvement, on farmore moderate terms.

It may be proper in this place, to pay that tribute of gra-titude which is due to the memory of other distinguishedfriends of agriculture, by shortly stating what they did topromote the improvement of their country. Nearly seventyyears ago, John Earl of Stair, (who was much respected bothat the court and in the camp), upon his retiring from the army,in the year 1743, took the lead in the cultivation of his nativesoil; and was the first who raised, in any considerable quantity,turnips,carrots, cabbages, flax, and artificial grasses, (as cloverand ryegrass, sainfoin, and even lucern), in the field, on hisfarm at New Liston in West Lothian. In Galloway also, byfurnishing the cattle with better food, he increased the size,and improved, the breeds of that district. Archibald, Earl ofIslay , afterwards Duke of Argyle, was eminent for his attach-ment to agriculture in general; and, in particular, for the im-provement of peat moss, sowing artificial grasses, and plant-ing oaks, th'e different kinds of fir, and also the larch, whichhe introduced into Scotland , first on his property as Earl qfIslay , and after his brother’s death, on his extensive estatesin Argyleshire. The Duke of Athole, the Earls of Eglinton,Loudon, Hopetoun, and Findlater were animated with equalzeal; and were great promoters of agriculture in the dif-ferent counties in which they resided. A numbor of otherlanded proprietors followed the example of these distinguishednoblemen; and rivalled them both in the science and practiceof agriculture. Three Lords of Session, viz. Lord Milton,Lord Drummore, and more lately Lord Karnes; also threeother most respectable gentlemen, Mr Cockburn of Ormi-ston, in East Lothian, one of the first improvers in Scot-land ; Mr Craig of Arbigland in Dumfriesshire, and Mr Scottof Dunninauld in Forfarshire, have conferred, as most spiritedimprovers, important benefits on their country.