son thinks large farms most conducive to the profits and comforts of the agriculturist. We have lately advanced the same opinion. Neither poor's-rates nor tithes are known in Scotland. The means by which the ministers are supported, and the poor fed, are sufficiently known. Leases are not common; and the want of an extensive interest, together with a dependence on the caprice of the landlord, retards improvements. The profits of farming however, as here stated, seem not to be inconsiderable; and the implements of husbandry improve with the profits and the increasing scale of agricultural attempts. Inclosing and planting appear to have been encouraged at a very early period, and each has lately been much extended. We strongly suspect that what are called ridges in the following passage are natural appearances: yet the author's reflexions are judicious, and the passage itself is curious. We meet with evident vestiges of ridges in the higher regions of the mountains, beyond all these fences, where the land has never been inclosed. These inhospitable spots never could have been turned up in the ordinary circumstances of the country. What dire necessity could have compelled men to plough such land? And how could grain come to maturity in such a climate? Either the first inhabitants of the country found the valleys so much infested with wild beasts, that they thought it safest to fix their residence on the mountains; and the country was so much wooded, that it was warmer than at present: or, during the successful campaigns of Agricola in this country, it is very likely that the Caledonians were compelled to retreat from the more fertile to the more barren parts of Scotland. The inhabitants flocked to their fastnesses, where their enemies durst not follow them. The population was in this event crowded beyond what the usual produce of the country in these places could support. The pressure of their situation urged them to have recourse to the soil of the mountains, by a temporary tillage, to prevent famine. What noble heroism, to run the risk of wanting subsistence, rather than to live in plenty, under the Romans, with the loss of liberty! These remarks are applicable to the general state of the High lands at a very early period: the features of all the mountainous parts of North-Britain are in that respect much the same; and excepting in the vicinity of the mansions of great proprietors, things remained for several centuries in this situation. Before the union, the trade of every man was war; and there was little leisure and no inclination to inclose or cultivate the ground. Within the period of half a century inclosing has made rapid progress in this country, especially during the last thirty years, and the ardor with which this and every other species of cultivation is carried on in our time promises to be lasting and highly beneficial to all ranks of men.' r. 109. Folding sheep on the mountains destroys very sensibly the heath; but it has less effect on the valleys, as the plant is probably there stronger and more hardy. Planting most certainly shelters the crop and the habitations. Our author has witnessed evident improvements in Perthshire from this source.-The chapter on arable lands is a very interesting one, and contains a great variety of useful information with respect to crops of almost every different kind. To give even the outline of the whole would be too extensive, and not particularly valuable: the entire subject must be read together. To prevent the fly in turnips, it is recommended to sow some new with the old seed. The former springs most rapidly; and, when devoured, the fly seeks some other crop, and the latter seed springs unmolested. The cheapness of turnip-seed renders this no very expensive method. The gradual spread of information towards the Highlands affords a pleasing prospect; and the Highland farming is not uninteresting. Our author's observations on the management of grass land, and the different grasses, afforded us much satisfaction. Indeed, there is no subject apparently so barren that he does not enliven and enrich by new or important remarks. The orchards and gardens, the woods and plantations, are in a thriving state, and promise to arrive gradually at some perfection, though in a high latitude, and in a less genial situation. All the variety of forest trees flourish in this county, but particularly larches. The plantations of oaks are also numerous. In the chapter of wastes and moors we find some good directions for reclaiming mosses, and some strong arguments in favour of plantations. Scotland was certainly at one period covered with woods. Among the improvements in Perthshire, draining, embanking, trenching, manuring, and watering, hold distinguished places. Our intelligent author thinks with us respecting paring and burning. The manures chiefly employed are dung, marl, and lime; and Dr. Robertson seems to be of opinion, that pulverised lime-stone would succeed as well as calcined, but not so quickly, notwithstanding its effects are seemingly more lasting. The following facts, though not new, are placed in so interesting a light that we have been tempted to select them, with the author's truly judicious and philosophical conclusion. There is nothing more common, and perhaps few things more difficult to be accounted for, than when lime is spread on short heath, or other barren ground which has a dry bottom, to see white clover and daisies rising spontaneously and plentifully, the second or third spring thereafter, where not a vestige of either, nor even a blade of grass, was to be seen before. The seeds of some plants have wings, and when fully ripe they spread their sails to the wind; the seeds of others have long beards, which make them buoyant, and raise them aloft in the air, in quest of a new settlement: but it is vain to suppose that the heavy globular seeds of clover and daisies, without beard or wings, are wafted about by the winds: it is also absurd to say, that they are brought there in the lime, after it has been burnt; and it is equally so, to allege that they are deposited from the stomachs of birds, without having been digested, as stone-seeds sometimes are, or that birds would pitch upon the very spot, where lime or other enriching manure had been spread, to deposit there the white clover and daisy seeds in such quantities, and in no other place near it, nor at any former time. Suppose a field to be well drained, and, in consequence of that operation, to carry the richest and finest grasses. If any one of the drains shall stop, rushes, sprits, and other coarse grass peculiar to spouty land, will grow apace. Why does this coarse grass grow only at the drain that has ceased to flow, where the land is overcharged with water? Why does not the same grass appear in the tract of the other drains, where the water is carried off? Or if the seeds of these coarse grasses are sown by birds, why are they not sown in dry land, which birds frequent, rather than in a bog, where few of them alight? Unless one can give a satisfactory answer to these difficulties, the sowing of clover and daisies, of sprits and rushes, and of every other species of grass, by birds, must be given up. Lastly, it is altogether unphilosophical, and contrary to common sense, to have recourse to the doctrine of equivocal generation, by imagining that any thing can produce itself, or that the seed of grasses can be produced without a cause. This doctrine is universally exploded. No man will hold it, who does not wish to be thought to have bid adieu to his understanding.-Many difficulties. occur relative to the generation of animals as well as plants; but to those my subject does not lead me. We are surrounded with mysteries on every hand; and many things both in the material and intellectual world appear inexplicable to us, owing to the shallowness of our understanding. The ways and the works of God are dark and intricate, and we often attempt to investigate them in vain. Our most profound researches are frequently nothing better than guessing at the causes of the phænomena that appear in the course of providence. There is no harm in these conjectures, if we hold them with humility. Perhaps the seeds of all plants were created at the same time with the earth itself, and deposited in the ground, to remain there, until they are, called forth by that degree of fecundity in the soil, and warmth in the sun, together with the moisture and exposure, and other circumstances which correspond to their nature.' P. 288. The breed of cattle in Perthshire is bad; but superior kinds are daily introduced. The breed of goats is discouraged, as these animals destroy the young trees; and sheep are found to be more profitable. The flocks of sheep are now very numerous, and of the best stocks. They are in general the blackfaced kind from the south. The numbers do not seem to have hitherto diminished that of black cattle; for many reasons assigned by our author: but he seems to think that the period is not very distant when this effect will appear; for the sheep system is gradually gaining ground. Yet there are many arguments which show that the increasing fertility of Scotland, and the improving climate, may render the country capable of supporting both the numerous flocks of sheep and the usual herds of cattle. The remarks on the diseases of sheep seem to be valuable, and the result of real observation. The other kinds. of live stock afford no very particular subject of remark. Pigeons our author thinks so voracious as to be a national injury; and computes, from a rough calculation, that the pigeons in Great Britain devour as much grain as would support 120,000 of the human species. Becs, on the contrary, devour nothing that can be employed for the use of man; and their production is wholly gain. Under the chapter of rural economy' our author gives a pleasing picture of the ancient mode of life of the shepherds of this county, but, we fear, has decorated it with colours too delusive. The price of labour is doubled within about twenty years but this he considers as no peculiar inconvenience, since every thing rises in proportion, and finds its level. Provisions are growing dearer, but are still what would in England be called very cheap. The arguments adduced to support the predilection for the arable system in this county merit atten tion; and those which relate to distillation, especially the fraudulent practice, are certainly very judicious. What relates to roads and canals, fairs and markets, is chiefly of local importance; but we observe with satisfaction the progressive improvements in the two former branches of rural œconomy. The exports of this county are chiefly agricultural. There seems to be no manufactured wool, except in shawls. Flax and cotton afford some varieties of manufacture. The whole trade is rapidly augmenting. The quantity of salmons taken and exported from Loch Tay appears on the contrary to be decreasing a circumstance more to be regretted, since the salmon of this loch is of a very superior flavour. The population is certainly on the whole increased, though, by inclosing and large farms, it is allowed to have diminished in some districts. This is, however, fully compensated by the enlargement of towns and villages. The obstacles to improvement are chiefly of local importance; and even to explain the meaning of some of these would not be an easy task. The miscellaneous observations, including the means of amelioration, are highly valuable, but chiefly important to the inhabitants. On the whole, we have read this work with great pleasure. The information is in general interesting: the reflexions interspersed We may just observe, that in the Appendix we find 'Hiers Carns' interpreted Heros Cairns. If this be correct, may it not assist in deciphering a disputed and almost unintelligible passage in the Merry Wives of Windsor, where mine host says Will you go on Heres?'-Will you go on Heros ?-an expression very suitable to the bombastic style of this Hero of the garter. Rev. show the author to possess taste, learning, and judgement. We have seen no agricultural report that, in all these respects, exceeds, or perhaps equals, the present volume. ART. XII.-Poems by William Boscawen, Esq. 12mo. Stockdale. 1801. THESE poems consist of elegies, odes, heroic epistles, and occasional copies of verses. Though we do not discover in them many of the more daring flights of genius, they have not offended us by instances either of affectation or carelessness. Mr. Boscawen's versification is melodious and easy; and, what is more to his credit, the whole breathes benevolence of heart and purity of moral principle. His elegies appear to us-but perhaps it is the most difficult species of minor poetry-to be his least successful efforts. His odes possess more merit. They often exhibit in their diction much of the majesty and characteristic grace of this species of composition. We shall select, in proof of our assertion, the second Ode, written for the Anniversary Meeting of the Subscribers to the Literary Fund, April 21st, 1795. Ye sacred Bards of elder time, Whose genius breath'd celestial fire! Whose heartfelt rapture soar'd in songs sublime! Who, proud th' heroic chief to crown, Wove the bright chaplet of renown, Kindled the patriot's generous zeal, Brave the stern tyrant's power, and smile in death! Blest spirits! from your starry spheres, Wake the bright hopes of happier days, When Poetry again shall raise Her genuine song, and heaven-born genius reign! |