OF SCOTLAND.

509

and young reapers, in binding and stocking, but they soonlearn to be as expert as the men. The reporter of Kincardine-shire , from whom this account has been extracted, says, thathe lias known women earn twenty shillings a week by thismode of reaping, but never knew a man earn more thaneighteen *.

§ 5 . Produce and application .—The produce of this cropmust differ materially, like that of every other grain, accord-ing to circumstances of soil, season, and climate, or the par-ticular variety cultivated, as adapted to the place of its growth.The quantity may vary from 70 bushels or somewhat more,down to 20 bushels or even less from the statute acre; andthe bushel will differ in value, according to the proportion ofmeal which it yields when manufactured. The average is ex-pected to produce what is called meal for oats, after paymentof the mill-dues; that is, a boll or six Winchester bushels ofgrain will produce a boll of meal, or 140 pounds avoirdupois;though in some cases potatoe oats have yielded 165 lbs. mealfrom six bushels of grain. The mill dues or charges for kiln-drying, shealling, grinding, and sifting, where thirlage is notabolished, are arbitrary and uncertain ; but, where that oldspecies of bondage is done away, the customary charge is oneshilling per boll of oats, or half a stone (8J lbs.) of oatmeal.

It is alleged that oats are generally a more productivecrop in Scotland than in England, and that the produce is ofa superior quality. It is not known how far this opinion maybe correct •, but a late writer on husbandry states the follow-ing as the reasons why this may be the case : “ In Scotland this grain gets an equal share of good soil with others ; where-as in England, the worst or inferior soils are usually allottedfor the growth of oats, and the best reserved for wheat andbarley. The climate likewise of Scotland rnay be consideredas more favourable to oats than that of England, being ot anioister nature, and rarely so warm, consequently better cal-

• Kincardineshire Report, p. 2G3.