At the beginning of last century, the tenantry of Scot land, those of a few fertile spots excepted, were nearly ruined by the calamitous seasons which had previously occurred. Capital stock was thereby wrested from them, and proprietors, generally speaking, were still too proud, perhaps too ignorant, to interest themselves about the amelioration of their own domains. The qualities sup posed to compose the character of a feudal chieftain are badly calculated for promoting internal improvement; and it may be remarked, that feudalism has been gra dually undermined, in proportion as improvements have been introduced. Such sentiments seem to have influ enced Mr Cockburn; for all his words, all his actions, were dictated by a spirit which wished to increase the prosperity of the middling ranks. In fact, the middling ranks are the strength and support of every nation. In former times, what we now call middle classes were net known, or at least little known, in this country ; hence the feudal system reigned longer in Scotland than in Eng land. After trade was introduced, and agriculture im proved, the feudal system was necessarily overturned, and proprietors, like other men, came to be estimated according to their respective merits, without receiving support from the adventitious circumstances under which they were placed.
When Mr Cockburn succeeded to the estate of Or miston in 1714, the art of agriculture was imperfectly understood, and the condition of the tenantry was so reduced, that it could not be expected to see improve ments undertaken unless the strongest encouragement was previously held out. This was done by Mr Cock burn, even in his father's lifetime. As Robert Wight, one of the Ormiston tenants, had early shown an un common spirit to enter into Mr Cockburn's views, being probably the first farmer in Scotland who enclosed by ditch and hedge, and planted hedge-row trees on his own proper charge, he was singled out for favour, and in 1718 received a lease of the Hurrays, or Muirhouse farm, of an uncommon long endurance. The lease was for 38 years, and the rent 7501. Scottish money; but upon paying a fine or grassum of 12001, Scots, at the expiration of that term, a renewal of the lease was to be granted for 19 years more, and so on from 19 to 19 years in all time coining. The two subscribing wit nesses to the deed were sir John Inglis of Cramond, Bart., and John Hepburn, Esq. of Humbie, gentlemen invited on the occasion by Mr Cockburn, in order that his example might animate them with the like liberal and patriotic desire to improve the agriculture of their respective properties.
Alexander Wight, eldest son of Robert above named, possessed the house of Muir farm by tacit relocation till 1725, at which period, agreeably to the plan adopted for encouraging substantial improvements, a lease was granted to him for 38 years, and three lives therein named. This tenant, like his father, having entered warmly into Mr Cockburn's measures, got that lease cancelled in 1734, when a new one was granted for 19 years, renewable for every 19 years in all time coming, upon payment of a fine equal to one year's rent of the premises. These were leading examples to Scottish landlords, and held out to other tenants of the estate a noble encouragement to undertake improvements, see ing that their benevolent landlord was so ready to re ward them.
In this way the foundation of Scottish improvement was laid, by granting long leases. Many people at this time may think, that such a length of lease was unne cessary, and that the distinguished personage of whom we are speaking, might have accomplished his object, by granting leases of a more limited endurance. We would request such persons to reflect upon the state of the country, and the actual condition of the tenantry at the period under consideration. We ought not to judge of the propriety of measures then employed, to intro duce and encourage improvement according to the rules of the present day, when tenants possess knowledge and capital sufficient for carrying through the most difficult and arduous undertakings. Let it also be remembered, that both knowledge and capital were the undoubted result of the ameliorated system then introduced. Mr Cockburn laid the first stone of the system ; his brethren in different quarters assisted in rearing the fabric, though perhaps their aid was not in one instance so mu nificent. The success which accompanied it, served,
however, to convince almost the whole landholders oi Scotland, that the surest way of extending improve ments was to give the tenantry an interest in their ac complishment. hence the bond of connexion betwixt proprietors and tenants in Scotland is formed upon more liberal principles than prevail in any other country with which we are acquainted. No man in Scotland, at least very few men, will enter to the possession of land unless the security of a lease is previously granted; and pro prietors in general are so sensible of the benefit of that tenure, that few of them refuse to grant it for such a number of years as both parties may consider best adapted to the system of management meant to be exer cised.
Notwithstanding that few improvements were intro duced during the seventeenth century, several legisla tive enactments were then made, which latterly have produced much benefit to agriculture. Independent of the regulation of tythes, a measure of primary import ance to husbandmen, the laws relative to the enclosing of land, and the division of mixed possessions, may be ranked as peculiarly calculated to excite improvement, in so far as the trouble of accomplishing these objects was greatly lessened, whilst precise rules were laid down, by which these improvements might be carried into effect. In these branches of rural legislation, Scot tish practice holds out a judicious pattern for the imita tion of our southern neighbours, who are confessedly behind in every one of them, and, in fact, cannot take a single step without the aid of the legislature. Want of capital stock was the greatest impediment to Scottish agriculture ; but this was partly removed by the rebel lion of 1745, when vast sums of money were poured into the country ; and, since that period, the husbandry of Scotland has progressively improved, in such a man ner as to bear comparison, local circumstances consider ed, with that of any country in Europe. Even the legal abrogation of the feudal system, by passing the Juris diction Act, was of material advantage, in so far as the security of cultivators was thus increased, and their si tuation rendered infinitely more independent than in former times. Since the conclusion of the American war in 1782, improvement has proceeded with singular rapidity in every district ; and while the rental rolls of proprietors have been doubled, tripled, and quadrupled, the condition of the tenantry, and of the lower ranks, has been ameliorated almost in a proportional degree. These circumstances are sure tokens of agricultural prosperity, and demonstrate, in the most forcible terms, that husbandry is a main pillar of the state ; and that the happiness and welfare of the community depends great ly upon the manner in which the art is executed. No nation, whose husbandry is feeble and imperfect, can br regarded as really prosperous, however considerable he the advances which they have made in other arts; be cause, when the art of raising food is neglected, all others must ultimately be forsaken. In short, to pro mote and encourage husbandry, to remove every obsta cle that stands in the way of exercising it, and to secure those concerned in carrying on the art, are duties obli gatory upon the government of every country ; and ac cording as these duties.are discharged, so will the wis dom of such a government be estimated by every man. who feels for the prosperity of the state, or is attentive to the sources from which that prosperity proceeds.
Haying thus given a concise history of agriculture, front such materials as were within our reach, we shall proceed to investigate the theory and practice of the art. Strictly speaking, the art of agriculture is confined to the cultivation of the earth, and does not include several other branches of work, which appertain to the general situation of husbanchnen ; hut, in a work of this kind, it may be proper to consider agriculture in a more exten sive sense, and to embrace every subject connected with rural economy, or which serves to promote or impede agricultural improvement. To cultivate the soil, in a sufficient manner, is certainly a primary object with the agriculturist; but other objects equally claim his at tention, as by neglecting them the primary object may be imperfectly obtained.