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ON INCLOSING LAND

sally acted upon, that common-field lands, and common wastesor pastures, have both become very rare in Scotland . InScotland , common-field lands used to be known by the nameof run-rig or run-dale, because the alternate lands or ridgesbelonging to different proprietors or Occupants run alongsideof each other; while the term common was restricted to wastesor pastures not occupied in severalty. These are indeed stillto be found in various parts of Scotland ; but the run rig orcommon-field lands have almost entirely disappeared, exceptin places where the crown has an interest, or in such as be-long to royal burghs, which were exempted from the opera-tion of this most salutary law.

The conversion of commons in Scotland into severalty hasbeen already considered, (see Chap. II Sect 5.); and thevarious modes of improving waste lands, will be discussed ina subsequent part of this work, (Chapter XI.)- It is there-fore proposed, in a great measure, to limit the object of dis-cussion in this chapter to tfie meaning affixed to the term In-closure in the rural and legal language of Scotland , or the.me-thods of dividing and fencing different portions of .land fromeach other, already held in severalty. Yet, as some commonland still exists, it has not been deemed proper, entirely tooverlook this subject in.the present.chapter, because connect-ed in some measure with fences and subdivisions.