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similar steps. Sometimes a strong, rude wooden ladder isfixed at either side of the wall *.
The wicket, or turn-about, is intended for the admissionof foot passengers, while it excludes horses and cattle. Itconsists of a low pillar in the centre, having two bars at right-angles to each other, on the top of the pillar, so placed on acentral iron pin, as to turn round in any direction when aperson wishes to enter. In another mode of construction,the passage is partially obstructed by two low posts, having atop rail, reaching from one side, a little past the centre ; andparallel to these, two other posts with a similar top rail, at alittle distance. Each of the rails go a little past the centreof the opening, but so far asunder as to allow’ a person to passon foot between them, while they prevent the passage ofhorses or cattle.
CONCLUSION.
Although a great proportion of the lands in Scotland stillremains open and uninclosed, though divided or appropriatedin severalty, this is not to be considered as any evidence orargument against the utility of inclosurcs. To account forthis, we need only to mention the great extent of these openlands, their low value in their natural state, the limited po-pulation of the country, and the scanty means of improve-ment possessed by many of the landholders. To a stranger,these causes may seem quite sufficient to account for the cir-cumstance of so little being already inclosed ; and such per-sons may perhaps think the progress of inclosure as rapid,under these circumstances, as could naturally be expected.
* There are various other contrivances for this purpose, several of which areengraven in the Communications to the Hoard of Agriculture, vol. ii, p, 114,plate xii, fig, 7,5, 70, and 77, and do not reejuire to he here described.