The Statistical Accounts were prepared by the ministers of the various parishes throughout Scotland.  The first was prepared in the 1790s the second in the 1840s and the third in the 1950s.
They followed a set number of predefined headings or topics and provide a fascinating insight into past life in Gargunnock

Name - It seems of no great importance, to ascertain the precise meaning of the word Gargowno.  Different etymologists will give different explanations of the meanings of names of places, in which there is often more imagination than knowledge.   

Gargowno is probably of Celtic origin; descriptive of the particular spot, on the banks of the Forth, where a small fort stood, of which there is some account in the History of Sir William Wallace.  There we read of the Peel (small fort) of Gargowno, in which an English party was stationed, to watch the passage of the Frew, in its neighbourhood.  Wallace with a few followers, took the fort by stratagem in the night, while the English were off their guard.  The curious stranger may be conducted to the ground which it once occupied; and may perhaps regret, that scarcely a stone is now left to tell its story.  There is something so venerable in the abodes of our ancestors (though in ruins), that it is much to be wished, the frequent practice of carrying them away, for the purpose of making dykes, fences, was forever abolished. 

The remains of the Bridge of Offers, about a quarter of a mile westward of the Peel, by which Wallace crossed the Forth, on his way to the Moss of Kinkardine, are still in existence; and for several years, it has been in agitation to rebuild it, which would greatly facilitate the communication betwixt the parishes on both sides of the river, and encourage tenants to give additional rent for their farms.

Extent - The parish extends about three miles and a half, from east to west, and from north to

south it measures six

Division of Land - All the estates consist of muir, dry field and carse farms.  On the south is the muir, which is part of a hilly tract of ground, stretching out from Stirling to Dumbarton.  That portion of the muir which belongs to this parish, consists of about 3000 acres, of which each heritor has a division, lying in a direct line with his other lands.

The muir has of late become an object of greater consideration, than in former periods.  The demand for such pasture has much increased; and this has naturally led the proprietors to place a higher value on it, than they were accustomed to do a few years ago.  Every one has his own proportion accurately measured; and its worth is now so well understood, that that sometimes it is no easy matter to settle a dispute about a few acres; which perhaps in other times would have gone for nothing. 

That part of the muir, which is connected with the estate of Gargunnock, was let, last year, at almost double the former rent; but the proprietor has this year taken it into his own hands; and having perused Sir John Sinclair's pamphlet on the subject, hath been induced to flock it with the Cheviot breed of sheep.  The shepherd who has been brought from that country, is hopeful that the experiment will succeed to a wish, although all the sheep farmers here are strongly prejudiced to the scheme; and predict its total failure during the winter months.  The superior quality, and price of the wool, is a sufficient justification of the attempt; and if the plan is successful, it will certainly turn out one of the most beneficial of our improvements. 

Men of property alone are qualified to engage in designs of this nature.  If they are successful, they will soon be followed by others; and society at large will reap the good fruits of their labours.  Or, supposing the undertaking should prove abortive, they are sufficiently able to sustain the loss.  That man is deserving of praise, who employs his substance in such laudable pursuits, as according to his best judgement may be useful to the community as well as to himself.

It would be of great advantage, both to the landlord and tenant, if care was always taken to annexe to the muirland farm some low lying fields, of better pasture; as, where this is not the case, the farmer is often obliged to send his flock during the winter a great distance, which must be attended with great inconvenience.  Col. Eidingtoun of Gargunnock is well provided in this respect; a circumstance favourable to his purpose of rearing the Cheviot breed.  The tenants of the muir of Boquhan, in this parish, are also well accommodated.  They possess some good pasture ground, immediately below the hill, which adds much to the value of their farms, both with respect to convenience and profit.  They are at pains never to overstock those fields, in summer; and the sheep find abundant provision in them, in winter.  By this means, the muir is covered by the sheep which it has bred; and the farmer says, that such as have been thus reared at home, turn out much better than those which he hath bought, at any time, from other parts of the country.

It is seldom that any part of the muir is cultivated for raising grain.  Attempts have been made this way, but most frequently with little or no success.  A few acres near the house of the farmer have been sown with oats or barley, but a good crop was never expected.  The soil and climate forbid the use of the plough.  There are extensive meadows; which, after having been covered with water in the winter, and had a little manure thrown upon the surface, produce abundance of excellent hay; and hay making, which is generally in the month of August, is the principal harvest.

The whole of the muir is without inhabitants, two families excepted, which possess that part of it belonging to General Campbell of Boquhan.  Gargunnock muir, as it has been stated above, is in the hands of its own proprietor; but the other divisions are rented by sheep farmers in neighbouring parishes.  To reside at a distance from the farm must always be attended with disadvantage.  It is impossible the necessary attention can be given to the flock.  Or, if the trust is committed to a shepherd, whose visits are only occasional, and who cannot be constantly at hand, especially amid the storms of winter, when much exertions is often requisite to save the animals; is it easy to see the risk must be greater, than when the master himself, or some such interested person, resides on the spot.

The two muirland houses have nothing in appearance to recommend them; and yet the low roof, the sort of door which obliges a person for the sake of his head to make a profound bow as he walks in, and the pitiful window, which scarcely affords him sufficient light to show him where he is, are inconveniences soon forgotten, when he is placed by the fireside.  The inhabitants though dwelling in a desert, have a civility of manners which does them honour.  An old soldier who came to their door, was kindly received, and continued for years to make their house his home.  All the return they could expect, was a little amusement in the winter evenings, while he rehearsed the story of sieges and battles.

If houses for the entertainment of the public cannot be expected in a country that is thinly inhabited, this disadvantage is so much the less felt, that the people are remarkable for hospitality.  There is a kindness to the stranger, which is seldom to be met with in larger and more polished societies.  If there is little ceremony, there is much good will.

In many places of the muir, there are roots of trees discovered, of a large size, from which it appears to have once been a forest; but now a tree cannot be discerned.  While ascending the hill, a little copse wood may be perceived upon the edge of the rock, which the sheep cannot reach.

The access to the muir is by narrow paths called ballochs (roads).  General Campbell of Boquhan has, lately, at no small expense, made an excellent road from the ford at Frew, to his muirland.  This road, six miles long, has opened up an easy communication with the low country.  Carts can now approach the heights to carry down peats, the fuel in common use, or to receive the dung which would otherwise be thrown into the water.  In forming this road he met with opposition from the tenants of the muir.  The many advantages derived from it have now corrected their mistakes and prejudices, in opposing what was so evidently intended for their benefit.

It is delightful to look down from the hills to the cultivated plain below.  The prospect is extensive and beautifully diversified. The winding of the Forth, the fertile valley, adorned on both sides by the seats of the proprietors, and stretching from west to east further than the eye can reach; and the range of mountainous country on the north and south, serving as a wall to shelter it from the storms, form altogether one of the most picturesque scenes in Scotland.  The beauty of the landscape is greatly increased of late , by the very extraordinary improvements in the moss of Kincardine, belonging to Mr Drummond; where many families, encouraged by the liberal terms held out to them by that gentleman, have settled and live comfortably.  As their number is daily increasing, and as each family is bound to remove a certain portion of the moss yearly; it is understood, that the period is at no great distance , when upwards of a thousand acres of carseland will be added to his estate, while in the mean time those who clear the ground of the moss have an ample reward.  The plan has succeeded beyond every expectation.  There is no object of curiosity, in this part of the country, equal to the improvements in the moss of Kincardine.

The inhabitants of this parish look to the hills for signs of the weather, and are seldom disappointed.  The setting sun, shining on the face of the mountain, indicates fair weather; while the sudden falling of mist on the top of it, soon after he has arisen bright, is considered as the sure mark of a rainy day.

Several rivulets flowing from different quarters of the muir, and at length uniting, form a succession of cascades, over craggy precipices, which after heavy rains, are seen and heard at a great distance.  The best view of them is from the rising ground at the west end of the village of Gargunnock.

Dryfields - The dryfields occupy the intermediate space, between the muir and the carse grounds.  Their name supposes that they are not subject to those floods, which frequently cover the carse, a flat low lying country.  Besides their being considerably raised above the level of the carse, and their gradual ascent to the bottom of the hills, which makes it impossible for water to remain upon their surface,; they are also for the most part of such a light and sandy soil, as quickly absorbs the rain, and shows the propriety of the name they bear.

The greatest part of the dryfields, until of late, lay waste and wild, overrun with furze and broom.  Few of them were subdivided or enclosed or cultivated in any considerable degree.  Plantations were not in use, and excepting on the sides of the glens, scarcely anything like a tree was to be seen.  But now it is quite a new scene.  All the heritors have united in a regular plan of inclosing with dykes and hedges.  Many of the uncultivated spots are covered with thriving plantations.  The country is adorned and the farms sheltered.

In giving some account of the present state of the dryfields, Boquhan, the property of Lieut. John F. Campbell claims particular attention, as his unwearied exertions, in executing an intensive plan of improvements for thirteen years past, have beautified and enriched his lands, in a high degree.

The plan has been carried out at an expense, exceeding at times the rental of the estate; and yet such expenditure is not lost, if by this means the value of the ground is proportionably increased, and bread is given to the industrious poor.  Fifty or sixty day labourers, and occasionally a greater number, are employed in planting, hedging, draining, ditching, rooting out whatever might obstruct the plough, making good roads from farm to farm, and fencing the young hedges and plantations from injury by cattle.  Twenty five pound sterling per week, laid out in this manner, have not only fertilized many waste and barren fields, but have also afforded the means of subsistence to not a few families in the neighbourhood.  Every one must have some amusement, and there are amusements which please not on reflexion; but, when agricultural improvements are viewed merely in the light of an amusement, (though they were attended with no other advantage), it is certainly one of the most rational that can be conceived, and to a generous mind it must give real pleasure, as every step taken to cultivate the country, contributes to the general advantage of the community.

A pamphlet lately published by the General himself, entitled "Notes respecting the Situation and Improvements of the Lands of Boquhan", describes in a lively, entertaining, instructive manner, the change produced on the dryfields, since they came into his possession.

These improvements may not appear so striking to those who saw their commencement, and have been accustomed to observe their progress from day to day, as they must to everyone, who may now return to Boquhan, after an absence of several years.  Strangers as they pass along, are charmed with the scene, and survey at leisure that rich variety of natural and artificial beauty that surrounds them.

There is only one thing regretted, by some of the inhabitants.  It was necessary, to pull down a considerable number of cottages.  Three or four small farms are thrown into one, by which means, the population of the dryfields is diminished: but when it is considered that the lands are now cultivated to much better purpose than formerly, that they are doubly fruitful, and that wherever a family is possessed of a few acres only, even the necessaries of life must be procured with difficulty; when to this it is added, that such persons find no worse subsistence as day-labourers, than as tenants of what do not merit the name of farms, it must be owned, that the method which is now almost universally adopted, of having fewer tenants, but larger farms, is of advantage to the country, while it is attended with no permanent loss to any individual.

Better houses are also obtained, than could be expected were the farm to consist of little more than twelve or twenty acres.  And this must uniformly be the case, wherever farms are extensive, and let to substantial tenants; as when one farmhouse only is required, where three or four were formerly necessary, the farmer will be better accommodated, in every respect, in a style of elegance unknown in former times, and with less expense to the landlord.

Dr Moir of Leckie, whose lands are situated eastwards of Boquhan, has also commenced a plan of improvement, in the dryfields, by inclosing and planting such spots of ground, as are but little adapted to cultivation.  When the gentleman, whom he lately succeeded, came to the estate, it was encumbered with heavy debts.  He instantly resolved, that his income whatever it might be, should exceed his expenditure, until he gave every one his own.  He lived long enough to see his laudable purpose fulfilled.  The plan he had laid down, however, made him unwilling to engage in any expensive scheme of improvement; and when the period at length arrived, which brought him the accomplishment of his wishes, he was then so far advanced in life, as to find no enjoyment in pursuits which require all the vigour and activity of youth.  On this account it must be acknowledged, that the Lands of Leckie are far behind some other estates in the parish, with respect to those elegant improvements, which usually distinguish the residence of men of fortune and taste.

The present proprietor has already done much to remedy this defect, and last year, more than double the usual number of labourers was employed.  The place is beginning to assume a new aspect.  A garden is to be immediately formed, in a field very favourable for soil and exposure; and when the family make the house of Leckie their stated abode, which it is expected will soon happen, there is every reason to believe that rapid progress will be made in many other useful and ornamental improvements.

About a mile to the eastward of Leckie, the road from Stirling to Dumbarton passes over a rising ground, and there the dryfield of the Barony of Gargunnock are viewed to advantage.  The spectator is charmed by the prospect.  The cascades from the hills, the glens covered on each side, some with natural wood, some with regular plantations, the village, the church and manse, the chimney tops of Gargunnock house just discerned above the wood, the well dressed fields, some for pasture, and others for crops of various kinds, and all inclosed with dykes and hedges in excellent repair, form altogether a very fine landscape.  The inclosures however, that are immediately under the hill, and have been long in pasture, are overrun in furze and broom, which are almost their only produce, when not cultivated several years.  Fields of this nature, it has been said by sheep farmers, are exceedingly useful in the winter, as the sheep feed on furze.  But as fields in grass are superior in every respect, the proprietor has begun to clear away this kind of shrubbery.  Burning or rooting out furze and broom, does not answer so well, as cutting them a little above the surface of the ground.  The root soon withers and dies.  Nothing however can do the business so effectually, as the plough; and when the grounds are again thrown into pasture , the cattle will prevent them relapsing into their former wild state, for a long course of years.

Gargunnock House, now the seat of Col. Eidingtoun, stand on an elevated situation, near where the dry fields are united with the carse; and commands an extensive prospect.  Though of an irregular figure it contains good accommodation for a genteel family.  Some parts of it are evidently of ancient date.  On the east wing there is a sort of tower, which gives it a dignified aspect on that quarter; and until a few years ago there was a high wall and a strong gate in front of it, which indicated that it was designed as a place of strength.  It is probable that the Peel, which was at a little distance, having been abandoned, or fallen into decay, it became necessary that the mansion of Gargunnock should be so constructed, as to become a place of safety for the inhabitants.

The barony of Gargunnock, for a century past, belonged to the family of Ardkinlas; and the late Sir James Campbell, whose memory will long be dear to the parish, having resided chiefly here, was at great expense, in making improvements both on the house, and the adjoining fields.  The removal of the wall and gate, marked the manners of the times.  The garden and orchard, which were immediately under the windows, were also removed; high grounds were levelled; an addition was made to the house, in a modern style:  A sloping bank was formed on the east and south, where the garden formerly was, and where sheep now feed; and from the high road, to which he gave a new direction, an approach was made to the house, far superior to any in this part of the country.

The house of Gargunnock has acquired an additional grandeur, from the fine front built by Col. Eidingtoun in summer last.

There is one general remark to be made, respecting the dryfields.  No portion of them is now allowed to lie neglected.  They are almost entirely inclosed throughout their whole extent, to the bottom of the mountain; and the heritors vie with each other, in decorating and fertilizing this part of their property.

Carse -
Etymologists explain this word, as signifying rich or fertile.  This account is justified by fact, for such lands, when properly cultivated, produce luxuriant crops.  About forty years ago, the carse grounds lay in almost a state of nature, unprofitable to the landlord, for it was difficult to find men who would venture to possess them.  Bad roads, fields uninclosed, the stiffness of the soil, ignorance of that kind  of farming which is suited to the carse, presented great difficulties when any attempt was made towards improvement.  But now it is astonishing to observe the effects of better husbandry.  The rivulets flowing from the hills, through the carse, have been confined within their proper channel, so as to prevent overflowing of the fields. excepting upon very rare occasions, after excessive rains; many of the farms are fenced with hedges, in a thriving condition; the old division of the lands into outfield and infield has been abolished.  The practice of liming is followed, with great success; a regular rotation of crops has been almost universally adopted; and from 4 shillings sterling per acre, there has been of late a rise to upwards of a guinea, and in some instances, to 30 shillings sterling.

The whole carse it is believed was originally under water.  Beds of shells similar to these, which are now in the Firth of Forth, have been discovered in several places.  This seems to justify the opinion, that the carse has, at some distant period, been gained from the sea.  In later times, it was covered by what has been called the Caledonian forest, at least it is certain, that when the Romans were in this neighbourhood, the carse was filled with trees of a large size, which they cut down, to dislodge the Scottish army that took refuge there.
The carse property of Mr Graham, an heritor of this parish, still goes by the name Micklewood, which evidently refers to a former period of its history:  For although there are some uncommonly fine trees, chiefly oaks near his house, which must have been there for some centuries, Micklewood undoubtedly signifies a wood much more extensive, than can now be discerned in this country.  The probability is, that not only the whole carse of this and the neighbouring parishes, but the dryfields also were a forest; as large roots of trees, which are manifestly of very ancient date, are everywhere found, especially on the sides of the glens.

It appears that after the forest was cut down, what is now called carse, became moss.  Not long ago, about two acres still remained in this situation, in the carse of Boquhan, to show what the whole once was; and at the present day, there are upwards of 1000 acres of moss, in the carse of Blairdrummond, in the parish of Kinkardine, directly north of the lands of Micklewood.  This moss, as has been mentioned above, is daily diminishing.  Trees of extraordinary bulk are found in it.  The trunk separated from the root, and lying at a little distance, with the marks of the axe upon  it, proves not only the existence, but the cutting down of the forest.  Upon this the moss gradually grew; scarcely any part of it is deeper than another.  The cleared grounds are on a level with the fields in culture around them, and so fertile is the land thus won from the moss, that after burning the surface, it bears plentiful crops of oats, for several years, without any sort of manure.
The proprietors of Boquhan and Micklewood are the only heritors of distinction who reside in the carse; and their houses and plantation appear beautiful from the

Meiklewood House today is the residence of our local Councillor, Mrs Helen Scott

heights.  The venerable oaks of Micklewood, attract the attention of every visitor.  Nor can we omit to mention the row of firs, where herons, time immemorial, have built their nests, and brought forth their young.  These firs of Meiklewood are the only trees of the kind in the parish to which they resort, and Mr Graham allows those trees to remain chiefly on their account.
All the roads in the carse (excepting that of Boquhan and Micklewood), are so extremely bad, that during the rainy seasons they are almost impassable.  At such times, carts cannot be used.  Everything must be carried on horseback, and even in this way it is with difficulty that the business is accomplished.  When the farmers are spoken to individually on the subject, they are constantly complaining of their roads, and seem anxious to assist in repairing them.  But no one chooses to set about the work alone.  When the time is convenient for one, it is inconvenient for another.  Fair weather comes, the road is dry and firm, and the matter drops.  In short the proverb hold true;" What is everybody's business is nobody's".
The best way would be, that the landlord should make good roads to all the farms, and assess the tenants for the interest of what money may be expended.  this mode would be acceptable to them all, and of great advantage to the proprietor; as when leases expire, easy access to the farm will be always one of its most powerful recommendations.

The houses on the carse farms are not good.  There are two circumstances, which must always prevent them from becoming so.  The first is, the farms are small, some twenty, and few more than forty acres.  Can good houses be expected in such cases?  The second is, the house is built by the tenant who is only allowed some timber by the landlord.  It is of consequence fitted up as superficially as possible.  If it serves the purpose of a dwelling during the currency of the lease, nothing more is expected.  For these reasons, it seems probable, that farm houses will be mean and uncomfortable, wherever they are built at the expense of tenants of a few acres. 

Upon the farm of Redhall, in this parish, consisting of 100 acres of carse and as much of dryfield, the property of Mr Seton of Touch, there has been lately built an exceedingly good house of two floors and with a slate roof and handsome offices, at the expense of the proprietor.  Such houses, though for the present expensive, last for ages, without the necessity for those repairs, which are incessantly required for those thatched cottages of half stone and half clay, which begin to decay almost as soon as they are reared.  It is to be acknowledged, however, that poor as the carse houses still are, they are much better than they were twenty years ago.  They consist of at least two apartments, each having a chimney and a tolerable window:  Nor are the cattle permitted as formerly, to enter at the same door with the family.  If the dunghill, which in many instances is still in front of the house, were removed to a proper distance behind it, this would be another step to cleanliness and health.

Soil - There are few fields, either dryfield or carse, uniformly of the same soil.  In the dryfields the soil is chiefly light and sandy, not unfrequently with a red tilly bottom; but in some places it is a rich loam, resembling the low or flat grounds on the banks of the Forth.  In the carse there is clay of all colours, but blue is the most prevalent, which is also the best in quality.  In a dry spring season, after an open winter, the clod is so hard, that there is great labour and fatigue before the harrows can make any impression.  a good deal of frost in the winter, and occasional showers in the spring, are favourable to the carse; but, if there has been little frost, or, if there is great drought after it is ploughed, the clay becomes impenetrable as the rock, and it is not without much toil that the seed is covered.  The nearer the banks of the Forth, the land becomes so much the more pliable.  The clay mixt with gravel and sand, form those rich flat fields on the sides of the river, which are in high repute both for corn and pasture.

Farming - The method of farming now generally observed, proves its superiority by its effects, while new attempts are made from year to year, by those of spirit and enterprize in the way of farther improvement.  The use of lime to the amount of 8 chalders per acre in the carse, and 5 in the dryfields, and the system of having a regular rotation of crops in every field, are the chief circumstances which have produced the very material difference betwixt the present and the former quantity of grain in the parish.  It is no unusual thing now to find 10 bolls of wheat or barley upon an acre, which once produced almost nothing but thistles.  The carse is sown with wheat, beans, barley and grass seeds, and after hay has been cut for two years, the field is next sown in oats, but in some places pasturing is preferred, as it contributes much to enrich the ground.

The late Mr Graham of Micklewood, who had a thorough knowledge of farming, and who pointed out the way to the improvement of the carse, scrupulously observed the following rotation of crops, as what he judged the best, and expressly appointed a particular farm to be so cultivated in all time coming; persuaded that experience would prove the excellence of his plan.  A farm, said he, ought to consist of twelve inclosures, and be managed as follows;
Summer fallow, wheat, beans, barley, hay, pasture for three years, oats, beans , barley, oats, summer fallow &c.
This order is found to answer so well, that the farm of Woodyet, which exactly observes it, has always a better crop than any other in the parish.  The three years pasture is the chief thing, which distinguishes his plan, and probably contributes most to give it full effect.

The wheat and barley land for the following year is begun to be ploughed about the end of the harvest; and, if the weather is at all favourable, the whole of this business is concluded before the winter sets in. Wheat is sown about the middle of September, thereafter, when the field has been ploughed about five or six times.  The lee intended for oats, is ploughed during the winter months, if the weather permits.  Beans are sown about the end of February, and beginning of March, although in a climate so inconstant as ours, the seed time is uncertain.  Beans sown and ploughed down on the 9^th January produced one of the best crops perhaps we ever saw, and so wet was the ground a few years ago, that it was not until the 6^th day of April that any seed was sown in this country.  The usual time for sowing oats is from the 20^th March to the end of April.  The barley is sown after this, and the last in order, though not the least profitable, is the turnip, a species of husbandry introduced of late by some of the heritors, in which the tenants do not seem disposed to follow their example.

Beans are not sown in the dryfields, as the soil is not sufficiently strong to bear a crop of this nature.  Peas are sometimes tried to advantage, but for the most part they run to straw, without grain.  The rotation of crops in the dryfields is commonly this;
oats for two years in succession, and barley the third year with grass seed, hay for two years, and pasture for three or four.  Potatoes are also raised in considerable quantities, and there is not a crop to which the soil is better suited.  The return is very encouraging.  A boll and a half, and often two bolls are digged where one peck was planted.  Some lay the sets in drills, which undoubtedly is the best way, as by this means the rows are distant from each other near 2 feet, the plough can be used among them, throughout the summer, and while this answers every purpose of summer fallow, the earth is raised about their roots, which makes them dry and mealy, and promotes vegetation.  A field in potatoes is a fine preparation for wheat  or barley. None of the red kind are here used, excepting the yam, which grows to a very large size, and affords good food for cattle.

The carse farmers are careful to procure horses of superior size and strength.  For the most part the ploughing, summer fallow excepting, is conducted with two horses, without a driver.  Four must at times be employed in summer fallowing.  Less progress perhaps may be made with two horses than with four, but the work is better done, as two properly trained, and acquainted with the ploughman's voice, will proceed with more steadiness, and in a straighter direction than four, drawing unequally, and injudiciously driven by an ignorant boy.

In each farm there is a field in wheat, well dressed and limed.  It has been found that dung is more advantageous to the wheat than lime, and several farmers now give lime to the barley fields, and dung to the wheat.  One of them this year gave the wheat field a part of both, and the return is luxuriant.

Last year, not quite an acre and a half of the minister's glebe, which had been in pasture for three preceding seasons, was ploughed only once at the end of October, and sown with wheat without lime or manure of any kind, and the crop produced £20:11:6.  One boll was sown and fifteen were reaped.

The husbandman is at pains to find good feed for his lands.  If the same grain is incessantly used it soon degenerates.  This defect is remedied sometimes by exchanging that of the carse, for what grew in the dryfield.  But the chief improvement this way is the introduction lately of the early red oats from the south, which produces more meal, and ripens almost a month sooner, than any other known in this country.  This promises to be a great acquisition to those whose crops are frequently in danger from a late and a wet harvest.

The drill husbandry is not practised here.  Attempts were made to introduce it at Boquhan, and premiums were offered by the proprietor to the tenants who should use it successfully.  Some had not the spirit to engage in it, and those who began had not patience to persevere.

Great improvement is made in the art of ploughing.  Prizes are annually given by the gentlemen in the neighbourhood to those who excel, and the young men eagerly contend for this honour.  The old Scottish plough is most generally in use, but Small's is beginning to be of great repute.  The old plough is frequently made by the farmers themselves, and at little expense, which is almost an irresistible argument in its favour.

The threshing machine which abridges the labour, and enables the farmer to prepare his grain with great speed for the market, is now set up, not only by some of the heritors, but also by such of the tenants as have large farms.  This is acknowledged to be one of the most useful instruments of husbandry, that has ever been invented.  It has no other inconvenience, than when a great quantity is threshed out at once, the straw is less relished by the cattle, than when it is fresh from the flail.

Kilns, with heads made from cast iron, in which twelve bolls of oats can be dried in the course of six hours, have been built last year by, by the chief heritors.  Care must be taken not to overheat them, and to turn the grain often, as in some instances where these precautions were neglected, the whole has been lost.

The farmer justly complains of the heavy tax, which bears the name of multure.  It is indeed a real oppression, when many of the farms are bound to pay the miller the eleventh peck of meal, and in some cases, a similar quantity of beans, and barley.  The tenants of Leckie are now free from this bondage.  The mill is in the hands of the proprietor, and arable land is assessed at the rate of one shilling sterling per acre for defraying every necessary expense, to which the tenants have cheerfully submitted.

It would be of great benefit to the country, if all that variety of service usually demanded by the heritors, besides the proper rent, were relinquished.  Great inconvenience arises from the obligation to which the tenants are subjected; to pay fowls, to drive coals, peats and dung; and in harvest to cut down the proprietors grain.  By being thus in a state of requisition, the tenant is often incapable of attending to his own affairs.  On some very important occasions, the opportunity on his own farm is lost, and never returns.

There is an established market in Stirling, for all sorts of grain, to which the neighbouring farmers resort; and they find a ready sale.  The price is usually regulated by the Edinburgh and Haddington markets.

The whole secret of farming, seems to lie in preserving the land dry and clean, in observing a regular rotation of crops, taking care not to impoverish the soil, and to be seldom from home, especially in feed time and harvest, ready to seize the favourable opportunity when it occurs.  "The hand of the diligent maketh rich".