IN SCOTLAND.

399

PART II.

OF THF . ENEMIES INJURIOUS TO THE FARMER IN HISPROFESSIONAL PURSUITS.

This is a subject of considerable importance and extent,from the number of enemies to whose depredations the far-mer is exposed. They may be classed under the followingheads : 1. Insects ; 2. Birds ; and, 3. Terrestrial animals.Some general observations regarding the nature of their at-tacks, and the modes of preventing them, shall be shortly sta-ted.

I. INSECTS.

There are two reasons why the farmers in Scotland , sufferless from the depredations of insects, than in more southerncountries ; 1. The climate, w'hich is wet and cold, and subjectto severe frosts * ; 2. The systems of husbandry, which arehighly unfavourable to the reproduction of the insect tribe.The moderate extent of land kept in permanent pasture, ishostile to their increase in grass lands; whilst on strong soils,a well-wrought summer fallow, begun in winter, and carried onthroughout the spring and summer, and part of autumn, notonly destroy these vermin themselves, but expose their eggsor larvae to the attacks of birds Green crops also, whenproperly cultivated, produce nearly the same effects.

* Banffshire Report, p. 319. The Irregularity of our weather is in this re-spect an advantage. In northern countries, as in Sweden , where the seasonsare regular, the insect tribe do much mischief.

| Dumfries-shire Report, p, 190.