GENERAL VIEW 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ISLE OF MAN, 
 
 WITH 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 BY 
 
 MR. BASIL QUAYLE, 
 
 FARMER AT THE GRIGGAINS, NEAR CASTLETOWN, IN THE ISLE OE MAK. 
 
 PRAWN UI> FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 
 AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 LONDON: 
 ED BY C. MACRAE. 
 
 >! DCC * 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 SAtffA 6AR*?AitA 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 IT is requeued that this paper, may be returned to the Board of 
 Agriculture, at its Office in London, with any* additional remarks 
 and obfervations which may occur on the perufal, written on the 
 margin, as foon as may be convenient. 
 
 It is hardly necefTary to add, that this Report is, at prefent, 
 printed and circulated, for the purpofe merely, of procuring far- 
 ther information refpecting the Hufbandry of this diftricl, and of 
 enabling every one, to contribute his mite to the improvement of 
 the country. 
 
 The Board has adopted the fame plan, in regard to all the other 
 diftric~ls in the united kingdom j and will be happy to give every 
 afllflance in its power, to any perfon, who may be defirous of im- 
 proving his breed of cattle, fheep a &c. or of trying any ufeful 
 experiment in hufbandry. 
 
 LONDON, FEB. 1794. 
 
'Poi'nf 
 
 ,<VW/r' i>' ./.'' 
 
 [SJLK of MAN". 
 
 Pftl 
 
SITUATION AND EXTENT. 
 
 XflE Ifle of Man is nearly centrically fituated between 
 Great Britain and Ireland. The middle of the ifland is in 54 
 deg. 46 min. north latitude, and is computed to be 32 miles 
 long, and 12 broad in the widefl part. Five twelfths arc 
 heathy mountains, and moorifh ground ; and the remainder 
 arable, paflure, and meadow land. 
 
 HILLS. 
 
 A CHAIN of "hills and mountains run nearly the length of 
 the ifland, and occupy a very confiderable part of the center: 
 thefe are paftured with fheep, colts, and young black cattle, 
 and afford fuel, from the peat mofTes, for the greater part of 
 ihe inhabitants. The right of paflure belongs to the public. 
 The profpedt from Snefield or Snowfield, the highefl moun- 
 tain (computed to be 580 yards above the level of the fea) 
 is very extenlive ; as from thence on a clear day, not alone 
 the whole ifland, but alfo the three neighbouring kingdoms, 
 und the principality of Wales, may be diftinclly feen. 
 
 LOW LAND!5. 
 
 THE two extremities of the ifland arc of this defcription, 
 nd abound with good arable and pafture land. The fouth 
 end is compofed of many different foils, of which the greater 
 part is loam. Stiff clays, which are difficult to till, prevail 
 in fonie places, and fand in others. Lime-ftone bottom lays 
 under a very considerable traft ; the expence of raifmg it, 
 p.rr vents its being ufed as a manure fo generally us it ought. 
 
 3 Great 
 
( 8 )" 
 
 Great quantities of fea wrack, or alga marina, are driven 
 afhore by the winter florms, which prove a valuable acqui- 
 fition to the cultivators of barley within two miles of the 
 more ; it has alfo been tried for potatoes, and anfwers ex- 
 tremely well as to quantity, but inferior in quality-to what is 
 raifed on farm yard dung. This manure is found to be of fo 
 volatile a nature, as to be totally expended the fecond crop. 
 The extremity .of the ifland, to the northward of the moun- 
 tains, is a plain containing about 48 fquare miles of valuable 
 improvable land, and moftly confifts of a fandy loam, on a 
 bottom of clay or marl ; it alfo contains an extenfive mofs, 
 which, within thefe ten years, has been improved by means of 
 aJarge open drain. Another tract of 500 acres of flat clay 
 is dedicated to hay, and appertains to different eftates in the; 
 neighbourhood which have no other meadowing. 
 
 RIVERS. 
 
 RIVERS, or more property ftreams, (as none run a courfe 
 of above fix miles, and few above half that difrance) are 
 numerous. The four principal ftreams take their rife in the 
 mountains, and have their exit at the four towns, where the\r 
 form harbours. In their courfe they are eflentially ufeful for 
 the feveral corn and flax mills, and abound with trout and 
 falmon in the feafon of the year. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 THE climate is rather milder than in the neighbouring parts 
 of Great Britain and Ireland, particularly in winter, the 
 froft and fnow being flight and of fhort continuance : on the 
 other hand, a difadvantage arifes from the want of that heat in 
 1 fummer 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 
 
 ftlrnmer fo friendly to vegetation, which caufes late harvcfts, 
 and of courfe prevents the grain from arriving at its full fize 
 and weight, and reduces the value of the ftraw for fodder. 
 Froft and fnow feldora appear here before Chriftmafs, and 
 
 within thefe few years have been fo flight as to be little im - 
 
 pediment to cultivation. 
 
 The ifland being much expofed by its fituation in the 
 
 middle of the Channel, fuffers much from gales of wind and 
 
 falls of rain, which are frequent, and of long continuance. 
 
 In the fpring months eagerly winds often prevail, and render 
 
 the feeding of the land more difficult, and lefs complete ; 
 
 they likewife prove very prejudicial to the tender flioots of 
 
 corn. 
 
 TOWNS AND POPULATION. 
 
 THE ifland is divided into feventeen pariihes, and has four 
 towns. Caftletown is the chief, and feat of government, 
 iituated near the fouthern extremity; and contains about 500 
 houfes; on an average of five to a family, the number of in- 
 habitants amounts to 2500. In the center of the town (lands 
 an old caftle, which, although built feven hundred years, is in 
 a high ftate of prefervation ; and gives the name to the town. 
 
 Douglafs is confiderably larger, and is the chief place of 
 trade, being the befl dry harbour in this part of St. George's 
 Channel ; it has 900 houfes, and at five to a houfe, makes 
 the number of inhabitants 4500. 
 
 Ramfay has not above 300 houfes, and 1500 inhabitants ; 
 although an indifferent harbour, it has a good road-ftead, 
 where outward bound fhips often fhelter in gales of vvefterly 
 wind. 
 
 B Peel 
 
Peel is about the fame fize as Ramfay, On a fmall pe- 
 ainfula near it are the ruins of a curious old caftle. 
 
 In five villages, which contain 200 houfes, the numbers 
 amount to 1000, and the reft of the inhabitants refiding in 
 the country raifes the total population to about 26,000. 
 
 YEARLY VALUE AND MANAGEMENT or ESTATES. 
 
 IN the original"divifion of properties in this country, the 
 lands were divided into lots from 50 to 150 acres, very few 
 exceeded 200 ; confequently the proprietors, who for the 
 moft part cultivated their own lands, were nearly on a level. 
 Till within thefe thirty years, the landed properties altered 
 little in value, for want of a fpirit of improvement, which 
 circumftances have now changed ; the herring fifhery alfo 
 occupying their attention in the fummer feafon, when the 
 faving their crops and draining their land fhould have been 
 their chief employment. This is fo far, as yet, an evil to the 
 farmer, although it cannot be denied that it is productive of 
 emolument to the country in general, by the introduction 
 of considerable fums of money in return for that commodity. 
 
 Several gentlemen and yeomanry have now paid particu- 
 lar attention to agriculture, and have found it greatly to their 
 interefts, both by the additional produce of their eflates, as 
 well as by their examples to their tenants, who following an 
 improved mode of cultivation, can afford to pay better rents, 
 and have a greater profit to themfelves. 
 
 There is ftill a very confiderable tradl of land capable of 
 
 great improvement; but the proprietors are either unable, 
 
 i for 
 
for want of fufficient capital or information ; or content 
 with the fyftem inherited from their anceftors, neglcdt to 
 uie thofe means which would with certainty add con- 
 fidefably to the real value of their lands. Some of them arc, 
 however, more attentive to their interefts ; and by their lau- 
 dable exertions, a fpirit of emulation is riling, and of courfe 
 the country in general is improving in appearance and real 
 value. On fome eftates in particular, as compleat tillage, 
 and as regular a fyflem of hufbandry, is in practice, as can be 
 feen in any place where the nature and lltuation of the lands 
 are equal. Taking the tythes in kind, which is cuftomary 
 in moft of the parishes, is juftly confidered a grievance, and 
 a great impediment to improvements ; many farmers delifting 
 from laying out their money where the moil confiderable 
 {hare of the profit refts with thofe who are fubject to no rifk, 
 and not any fhare of the expence. Many eftates are, however, 
 clear of this incumbrance, which operates as a tax upon in*- 
 duflry ; and in lieu have purchafed their tythes, or pay an 
 annual modus or prefcription, which can never be altered. 
 A greater blefilng could not fall on this country, than an 
 univerfal payment of the tythes in a fettled fum of money. 
 
 LEASES. 
 
 THE leafes generally granted, are for feven, fourteen, or 
 twenty one years. Till the year 1777? leafes legally dropt 
 at the death of the inheritor and leffor ; but fince, inheritors 
 can grant leafes for twenty-one years certain, on the moft 
 improved rent. Time of entry, at the twelfth of November. 
 Rents ufually'paid at Chriftmas and May. The terms, or 
 covenants of leafes, bind the occupier to maintain and de- 
 
 B 2 liver 
 
liver the buildings and fences in tcnantable repair, he having 
 received them in the like condition, which is often afcer- 
 tained by a jury of four undemanding men. What buildings 
 he alfo makes are fubjeft to the fame regulations. ReftniSt- 
 ing the tenants cropping too frequently, is in moft leafes a 
 particular covenant, allowing three crops of grain in fuccef- 
 fion, and then either laying the hind down with grafs feeds, 
 or afllfting it by a fallow or fallowing crop. Many, though 
 fo bound, make it a rule not to exceed two crops of grain, 
 and find it their interefts. Another common agreement is to 
 expend the hay and flraw on the farm, as alfo the manure ; 
 in the neighbourhood of the towns, this is often difpenfed 
 with, and the farms not injured, as manure is there purchaf- 
 able. 
 
 RENTS. 
 
 THE lands in the vicinity of the towns are moftly in the 
 occupation of their inhabitants, whofe univerfal cuftom is 
 to hold as much as the demands of their families require, and 
 give a greater rent than could be afforded by farmers. Two 
 guineas per acre are given for fome grounds ; and even more, 
 where a piece of remarkably good land is convenient. Thirty 
 ihillings is a common price; but for farms, none, or very few, 
 exceed a guinea. At two miles diftance from the towns, 
 the prices are from twelve to eighteen fhillings ; and the up- 
 lands are fet from five to twelve. There is a great quantity 
 that does not fetch that rent. No other meafure is ufed here 
 but the English ftatute acre. 
 
 The value of ftock employed in agriculture is uncertain 
 and various, as fcarcely two farms are alike, or require the 
 e^ capital. Thirty-five Shillings per acre will probably 
 
 3 b* 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 be the average of moft parts of the low, and ten /hillings of 
 the uplands. As milk makes a chief part of the fubfiftence 
 of the inhabitants, a confiderable portion of land is allotted 
 for the fupport of cows ; moft farms keep fix at leaft. fome 
 twelve, but very few as many as twenty. The butter pro- 
 duced from thefe is moftly exported to England, where it is 
 much in efteem. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF A CROP, &C. ON A FARM IN THE 
 NEIGHBOURHOOD OF A TOWN; NUMBER OF ACRES 
 270; RENT 2!Ol. 
 
 In wheat, 
 Barley, 
 Oats, - 
 Potatoes, 
 
 Hay from fown grafs, 
 Meadow, 
 Flax, - 
 Fallow, 
 Pafture, ~ 
 
 ACRES. 
 26 
 
 30 
 3 
 2 4 
 40 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 *3 
 92 
 
 270 
 
 Plough horfes, 
 
 Saddle, 
 
 Poney, 
 
 Stallion, 
 Celts, 
 
 Milcb 
 
( 14 
 
 "Milch cows, - 15 
 
 Fatting cows and heifers, 10 
 
 Bull, - - - i 
 
 Grafting to fix cows, 6 
 
 Four horfes, - 4 
 And twenty fheep. 
 
 Houfe fervants, two men and three boys ; with fix la- 
 bourers and twenty-five additional hands in harveft. Fa- 
 milies, feven ; and fouls, forty. This farm was divided 
 among fix tenants, who kept fixteen horfes, and maintained 
 thirty fouls. 
 
 LABOUR. 
 
 THE inhabitants of this ifland are fufficiently numerous 
 for its cultivation ; but the herring fifhery bringing in fo 
 much money, tempts the owners of fmall farms, tenants, and 
 labourers, to fpend the three moft important months in the 
 year in that employ. Upwards of five thoufand men arc 
 engaged in the fifhery, who, after having tilled their land 
 and fown their corn, prepare their boats, nets, &c. and leave 
 -the weeding of the crops and the faving of their harvefts to 
 their wives and families, and thofe Siwmen who prefer being 
 afhore. This cuflom is no way prejudicial to thofe whofe 
 crops are iinall ; but is feverely felt by the farmers, whofe 
 chief dependence is on corn ; it frequently happens that corn, 
 both uncut-ad cut, is much injured for want of fufficient 
 number of hands. The women are expert reapers, and can 
 do many other parts of husbandry work. Threming is 
 chiefly performed by them, on the upland farms ; and in 
 digging up of potatoes, they are littk inferior to men. 
 
 The lower clafc of inhabitants live on meal of oats, and 
 barley, and potatoes, and fifh, with a finall proportion of fle/h 
 
 meat. 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 jncat. Their breakfaft is of meal pottage and milk ; their 
 dinner is potatoes, and either fait or freih fi/h ; fometimes 
 beer" or pork, as they can afford ; and their fupper either 
 pottage, or potatoes and milk. What bread they ufe is made 
 of barley meal, which is cheaper than oat meal, and is con- 
 fulered as more wholefome. 
 
 The labourers have a fmall piece of ground for the 
 growth of potatoes ; and thofe who keep cows are. obliged 
 to cultivate fome corn for their provender. 
 
 The price of labour is incrcafed within thefe laft ten years, 
 from fix-pence to eight-pence per day ; and in fome places, 
 as high as a milling. Many works are found as expenfive 
 as in the oppofite coafts of England, though the daily wages 
 are lower, occafioned by the want of activity and ingenuity. 
 The cuftomary mode of employ being by the day, and not by 
 the job, is the chief reafon of this want of exertion. Houfe 
 fervants have alfo raifed their wages, near one half, fince the 
 above period. A ploughman is not to be got under fix gui- 
 neas ; when, ten years ago, none required above three and 
 a pair of fhoes, or a quarter of a hide for fandals. Boys, 
 from fourteen to feventeen years of age, have two guineas, 
 when formerly they got but one. Some expert intelligent 
 men fervants have been procured from Scotland and Eng- 
 land, at wages from fixteen to eighteen pounds a year, and 
 have proved valuable acquifitions, by reducing the ancient 
 mode of ploughing to lefs trouble, and bringing the practice 
 of drilling potatoes and turnips to greater perfection; by 
 which means more cattle are flair fed, and the markets, in, 
 winter, better fupplied with provifions. 
 
 The wages of mechanics are, carpenters and mafons, one 
 {hilling and fix-pence; quarriers, one /hilling, and four-pence 
 per day. Mowers alfo have one fhilling and fix-pence, with 
 a quart of ftrong beer, per day ; they cut only three quarters 
 of an acre. Women cam fix-pence per day, at potatoe- 
 felting, hay-making, weeding, and pulling flax ; eight-pence 
 
 in 
 
yi harveft, and feven-pence when digging potatoes. Five 
 reapers, and one to bind, can cut an acre of middling corn 
 in a day. The practice is, to cut the corn as clofe to the 
 ground as poffible ; and the ufual number of (looks per 
 acre is between fixty and feventy. Stocks of wheat are 
 never topped, and confift of ten (heaves ; but barley and 
 oats have twelve (heaves, and are covered. Mowing corn 
 has been tried by way of experiment ; but tying and {looking 
 after mowing, makes it come as expenfive as reaping. 
 Shoeing horfes is always paid for by the fet, at two (hillings ; 
 their yearly coil is about twelve (hillings a horfe. Heavy 
 iron work (lands in four-pence per pound, and fine work 
 five-pence. The hours of work are from fix to fix 
 in Cummer, and if later in the morning are obliged to make 
 it up in the evening, allowing two hours for victuals, and 
 reft at noon ; in winter, from eight in the morning to four in 
 the afternoon, without (loppage at noon. 
 
 BUILDINGS. 
 
 THE farm-houfes and offices in this ifland are, in general, 
 fmall, and not well conflrudted, no attention being paid to 
 fituating them regularly; but they are built wherever fancy 
 directed. Thofe lately erected are on a better plan, ha vino- 
 the farm offices built round a yard, where young cattle are 
 foddered on the dunghill. The buildings are alfo larger and 
 more fubftantial than formerly ; the walls built of lime, 
 mortar, and ilone ; the covering moflly of dates. A com- 
 mon plan here is to have the barn over the cow-houfes, but 
 the cattle are never kept fo clean, and, if fatting (lock, do not 
 thrive fo well ; it is alfo inconvenient and expenfive to drag 
 in all the crop of corn. Tying the cattle to (lakes is dill 
 the, cuftom on the fmall farms ; but on the larger, they are 
 
 Secured 
 
( '7 > 
 
 fecured by yokes, or fmall uprights, moving in grooved beams* 
 Open ftables are too much in ule Hill, the horfes being very 
 apt to kick one another. 
 
 The cottages occupied by labourers on the upland, are 
 very mean, built of earth and thatched with flraw ; but near 
 the towns they are better. Thatching with ft raw, and fe- 
 curing the covering with netting of flraw ropes, is particu- 
 larly well done in this country. The duration of this roofing 
 is ihort, not lairing above two years ; but when the thatch, 
 is fewed on, as in England, it lafts fourteen. There are a 
 few eitates well fupplied with offices and commodious barns* 
 
 INCLOSURES. 
 
 THE inclofures in this ifland are ufually from four to tew. 
 acres, and for the moft part, appear to be of ancient date ; 
 very many of the fences are unaccountably crooked and ir- 
 regular. 
 
 The mode of fencing, except on a few farms, is by banks 
 built of fods or fquare ipits of earth, to the heighth of five or 
 fix feet, which is a work at which the labourers here are 
 remarkably expert. Ditches for conveying off the water 
 would caufe them to be more fecure ; but tha outfides of the 
 hedge requiring fo large a portion of the furface, they are 
 little lower than the head land, from which the fods are cut. 
 Thefe fences ftand in need of frequent repairs, the cattle and 
 fheep climbing over them, either to eat the grafs which grows 
 on the hedge or to get into better pafture. Gois, or furze, 
 where it will thrive, is drilled on the ridge, and makes this 
 mode of fencing very fecure ; but it muft be cut down every 
 two or three years, or it will deftroy the hedge. Dry ftone 
 walls, where ftones can be procured at a low rate, are ufed, 
 and are donfidered the beft fencing, as they laft a long time, 
 
 C and 
 
and are eafily repaired. Several new upland inclofures have 
 been fenced this way, and cofl from one /hilling to one and 
 eight-pence per yard in length, five feet high, and two thick. 
 A few farms have thorn fences, but they only grow on fome 
 fituations, very rarely with a weflerly afpect. A fmgle hedge 
 four feet high, and ditch four feet wide at top, eighteen inches 
 at bottom, and four feet deep, planted with two rows of quick- 
 fets, cofls here eight-pence the rod of five yards and a half, 
 and when backed with fod work ftands in two-pence more. 
 Flaming and clipping Is pra6lifed where the thorns are of 
 a" fufficient fizc and age. 
 
 ROADS. 
 
 IHE ftate of the roads has been rapidly improving within 
 thefe lad twenty years ; before which period they were dan- 
 gerous in the winter feafon, and fcarcely paflable in the fum- 
 mer, .for carriages. Travellers generally went on horfe- 
 back ; even corn, hay, and manure, were carried by the 
 fame mode of conveyance. By the attention of the legif- 
 lature of this ifland to the due application of the funds 
 allotted to the highways, they are now much altered ; there 
 are, however, many roads very bad, but as there are no 
 turnpikes, the funds are too (lender for a general improve- 
 ment. The committee of the legiflature for the direction 
 of the roads, have great merit for the repairs already done, 
 and the new roads they have made and are making, which 
 in many places are difficult and troublefome, on account of 
 the numerous rills and dreams running down from the 
 mountains, and the unevennefs of the land. The number of 
 bridges neceflary in a country abounding with rapid rivulets, 
 caufes road-making to be a great expence, and retards fo 
 ufeful an improvement. By die flatute of 1776, new high 
 I roads 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 roads were ordered to be eight yards wide, and to have 
 ditches on either fide, according to the drynefs of the foil, 
 and to be well gravelled on the top ; the old roads wrre 
 alfo to be made broader where required. The funds origi- 
 nate from parochial labour, including three day's labour 
 from every houfe in the towns, amounting to about 750!. a 
 proportion of the revenue arifmg from public-houfe licences, 
 of about i8ol. and a tax on dogs, of 70!. Amounting altoge- 
 ther to loool. per annum. 
 
 IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 
 
 'TILL within thefe few years, the inftruments and geers ufecl 
 in agriculture were few in number, and badly conftrudted ; of 
 courfe their duration was fhort, and execution not complete j 
 but of late, ploughs, &e. have been introduced from England 
 and Scotland, which anfwer the purpofe better, and by being 
 more firmly made, and of feafoned timber, prove cheaper in 
 the end. 
 
 The Plcugbs- ufed by the final! farmers efpecially, arc? 
 nearly on the fame conftruc~h'on as thofe formerly in general 
 life in Scotland and Ireland, but not fo large or heavy ; they 
 do their work on lays or ftrong lands inferior to no plough ; 
 but the draught is greater than thofe with curved mould 
 boards. The common run of country horfes being fmall, 
 and depending chiefly on the field for fobfiftence in winter, 
 are not ftrong, and require four at leaft to turn a furrow 
 as many inches deep ; but where better horfes are kept, the 
 two-horfe plough is ufed, and can till confiderably more laud 
 in the day. A few ploughs of the conftru&ion of Mr. 
 Small, of Ford, in Scotland, have been procured, and much 
 efteemed, being more fimple, ftrong, and mathematically 
 made, than thofe got eifewhere ; the draught is alfo obferved 
 
 C2 t 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 to be tcfs, though the plough is heavier. Thefe plough?, with 
 their carriage to the iiland, coft about 2!. ics. and a country 
 plough cannot be made under il. 155. In the fhorteft winter 
 days, not more then half an acre is turned up ; but more in 
 proportion, as the days lengthen. The two-horfe ploughs, 
 without drivers, can do a quarter more work than the long 
 teams. 
 
 Harrows of a good conduction are ufed on moft of the 
 lowland farms ; but the farmers of the higher grounds, and 
 of little eftates, contrive to get over their work with thofe of 
 the old make, which are fmall and light,, very inadequate to 
 the purpofe required, as they muft be drawn very oiten over 
 the land tefore the feed corn is properly covered. Small 
 harrows coft about eight {hillings, and the improved from 
 eighteen to twenty-five. 
 
 On iome farms the roller is ufed for fmoothing and com- 
 preffmg the barley lands, particularly thofe where grafs feeds 
 are fown, and is efteemed a valuable implement, but feldom 
 tried on lays, except when drefled with comport ; it bruifes 
 the lumps, and being followed by a brufh harrow of the fame 
 width, fpreads the manure better over the furface of the land. 
 They are generally made of wood, from four to fix feet long, 
 and from nine to fixtecn inches diameter, and from 500 to 
 looolb. weight ; drawn either by one or two horfes. There 
 are a few flone rollers of a lefs fize, but equally weighty. 
 A mallet for breaking clods was formerly much in ufe, but 
 is now only continued on the fmall farms, and by mecha- 
 nics occupying patches of land, termed crofts. 
 
 Of Drilling and Hoeing Machines there are few ; turnips 
 only requiring machines for feeding in drills ; the hoeing, 
 except in one or two farms, being performed with light 
 ploughs, the intervals of two feet betwixt potatoes, beans, 
 turnips, and cabbage, allowing fufficient room. 
 
 WHEEL 
 
WHEEL CARRIAGES. 
 
 WlTHIN thefe laft twenty years the carriages in this 
 ifland are very much improved, which, with the alteration 
 of the roads, have caufed a remarkable difference in the face 
 of the country. Lime and other manure being now portable 
 to the upland farms, in cans, which could only be brought 
 there on horfes backs in double bilkers made of flraw, and 
 in trifling -quantities. Sledges and cars of the conftruction 
 common in Ireland, are now giving place to light fingle 
 horfe carts, called gigs, and large ones drawn by two or three 
 horfes; when corn, hay, or any bulky loads are carried, 
 handy rails are connected to the bodies of the carts. Gigs 
 can draw from 500 to icoolb weight; and of corn, twelve 
 flocks or fhocks of fheaves. Carts ufually carry from 1500 
 to 25colb. and of corn from eighteen to thirty (looks. 
 Gigs with- four-feet wheels can be conftru6ted for five 
 pounds ; and carts with wheels a foot higher, from eight to 
 twelve ; narrow wheels are univerfally ufed. 
 
 Dreffing corn by means of fanners is now the general 
 practice on moil farms ; formerly corn was kept for weeks 
 in the chaff, before favourable wind and weather afforded ah 
 opportunity to winnow, and proved a great inconvenience, 
 both with regard to the cattle's fodder, and fale of the grain, 
 befides being fubjecl to vermin and other means of dimi- 
 nution ; it now can be drefied after working hours by the 
 fervants, and greatly afufl the men employed in threming : 
 with the the carriage from England, they coft three or four 
 pounds ; and with ihree attendants can clean from eighteen 
 to thirty Winchefler bufhels in an hour, with paffing twice 
 through the machine. 
 
 Tlircjl/ing -has been found the mofl vexatious work of 
 hufoandry f for when die people are employed by the day, 
 
 their 
 
their chief endeavour is to do as little as poffible, both for the 
 fake of lazinefs, as well as to infure in-door work in winter, 
 which is a great difappointmentto the ploughmen and carters, 
 who by that means are cut out from jobs in wet weather. 
 When threfhing is let by the job, it requires particular at- 
 tention, left the ftraw be thrown out half threfhed. The 
 ufual price by the job, is one {hilling per boll of wheat, con- 
 taining four Winchefler bufhels. Ten-pence in fome places, 
 but generally one ihilling per boll of barley of fix bufhels i 
 and ten-pence for oats, of the fame meafure as barley. 
 
 The expence and wafte, attendant on the old mode of 
 threfhing, induced one farmer to go to Scotland, and mi- 
 nutely examine the confxrudlion of thofe lately invented ma- 
 chines for threfhing ; he has erected one which anfwers the 
 purpofe very well, though it does not threfh fo much in the 
 day as machines of lefs fize. The draught proves more fe- 
 vere than was calculated, requiring four ftrong horfes at 
 leaft : when an extraordinary quantity is wifhed, an additional 
 horfe is ufed. The execution is according to the goodnefs of 
 the corn. From twenty to thirty ftooks of twelve fheaves 
 each, can be managed in one hour, producing from eighteen 
 to twenty-five bufhels. The expence of its erection was 
 fifty pounds. Threfhing machines, when brought to per- 
 fection, appear to be one of the moft ufeful inventions agri- 
 culture ever received. 
 
 MANURES. 
 
 THERE is fufficient manure made in the towns, for the 
 land occupied by their inhabitants, but very little fold to the 
 farmers, whofe chief reliance is on farm yard dung. Near 
 the fhore of the fouth end of the ifland, the farmers receive 
 great afliftance from the quantity of wrack, or fea weeds, 
 thrown on fhore. This is either ufed immediately for corn or 
 
 potatoes, 
 
potatoes, or is a valuable part of a comport, as it impreg- 
 nates it with flrong falts, and preferves its moirture in the 
 drieft feafons. Plough oxen, fleers, heifers, and dry cattle, 
 confume the oat and barley flraw, and ufually pay from 
 eighteen /hillings to a guinea for their winter keep. The 
 aged cattle are kept in houfes, but the young in yards, or in 
 the corners of dry pafturcs, with liberty of ranging the fields 
 in the day time ; the manure made by them is either ufed for 
 potatoes, or laid by for mixing in a comport either for tur- 
 nips, wheat, or top drcffing lays. 
 
 Lime Stone is to be found in great abundance in quarries 
 and on the ihores of the fouth end of the ifland. TKe expence 
 of railing it in the quarries is great, which, added to the ad- 
 vanced price of coals, makes lime an expeniive manure : it 
 cannot now be burnt under eighteen-pence per barrel of fix 
 bulhels, and fifty barrels are reckoned a fumcient dreffing for 
 an acre. When ufed, uncompounded, it is fpread on the 
 furface generally two years before the land is broken up, by 
 which time it incorporates with the foil, and produces very 
 good crops. When ploughed foon after fpreading, it finks, 
 and gets out of rrach of the plough in a few years ; but when 
 ufed on the top, nd not too frequently ploughed, the benefit 
 of liming can be plainly obferved for ten or twelve years. 
 Land already fpent by tillage feels little good from lime 
 without the afllftance of other manures. 
 
 On many farms, folding both (heep and neat cattle is Mill 
 in practice, but not fo much as formerly ; this, as it is a ma- 
 nure, collected in fummer, is confidered as an acquifition. 
 The cattle muft have remarkable good pafture through the 
 day, or they muft fuffer from fo long confinement without 
 eating. 
 
 Clay Marl is in great abundance in the north end of the 
 ifland, few farms being without it, and many having it m 
 
 every 
 
every field ; it is moftly found near the furface, and deferved- 
 ly may be confidered the moft valuable of manures. The 
 cuflomary way of ufmg it, is to lay from three to four hun- 
 dred loads, of ten cwt. each, to the acre. After it is diffolved 
 by the winter rains and frofts, the land is plougb.cd.and kept 
 in tillage for a dozen years, and fometimes longer, as the 
 crops continue good. After it is thoroughly exhaufled, another 
 dreffing of marl brings it round again to as good condition 
 as ever. There are many inftances of twelve crops having 
 been procured from one dreffing of marl ; it has been tried 
 with fuccefs on meadows and paftures, but generally prae- 
 tifed on tillage land. 
 
 MARKETS AND FAIRS. 
 
 EACH town has a market for provifions on Saturdays, 
 where the country people bring their poultry, &c. to fell, 
 and the butchers have their meat provided ; but there is no 
 fuch thing as a market for grain, the maltfters, millers, and 
 bakers, contracting with the farmers, after harveft is over, 
 for whatever. grain they have to fell. As the quantity grown 
 on the marled land of the north end of the ifland exceeds 
 the confumption there, it is bought up and fhipped lor Eng- 
 land, or for the other parts of the ifland which are more po- 
 pulous, and do not produce a fufficiency. 
 
 The Fairs -for the fale of horfes, cattle, and wearing ap- 
 parel, the manufactures of the ifland, are numerous, fcarcely 
 a week pafling without one ; their frequency caufes many of 
 them to be ill attended ; there are fix at which a good deal 
 of bufmefs is done. Between two and three hundred head 
 of oxen and heifers, and a few poneys, are bought up, and 
 fent to England annually. Many of the horfes expofed to 
 
 fale 
 
falc at the fairs are imported from Ireland, of a larger breed 
 than that of the country ; but they are reckoned neither fo 
 hardy or a&ive as the home bred, but by their fixe are better 
 adapted for the purpofes of labour. 
 
 LIVE STOCK 
 
 THERE is not due attention paid to the rearing of die live 
 flock in this ifland, either horfes or black cattle, trufling to 
 the importation of draught horfes from Ireland, from which 
 place young cattle are fometimes brought, the ancient flock 
 of the country being of a fmall fize 
 
 The ufual number of horfes allowed for hufbandry, in the 
 low land farms, is one team of two or three horfes, from 
 thirteen to fifteen hands high, to thirty acres of tillage. On 
 the upland, and fmaflcr farms, double the number are ufed, 
 they being of a much lefs fize. Teams of fix horfes arc 
 now rarely feen, though twenty years ago they were the 
 mofl common. It is yet not unufual for two tenants to join 
 in making a plough team. The prices of four-year olds, 
 and fifteen hands in height, is from twelve to eighteen 
 pounds, and of the fmall fort from fix to ten pounds. 
 Formerly the poneys of this country were remarkable for 
 their beauty, and were much in requefl in England and Ire- 
 land, to run in gentlemen's carriages ; but now their num- 
 bers are much diminifhed, as larger horfes are found to be 
 more ufeful. The importation from Ireland does not pro- 
 mife now to be fo great, as the high prices which have 
 been lately got, have tempted many of the farmers to breed 
 for their own ufe at lead, and flallions have been procured 
 from England. 
 
 The univerfal ufe of milk, for the diet of the inhabitants, 
 caufes the flock of horned cattle to be numerous ; but the 
 breed is not taken fufficient care of, rearing iudifcriminately 
 
 D from 
 
from all forts of cows, few of the old country {lock can now 
 be found ; they were fhort-legged, and thick bodied, and 
 more remarkable for fatting than for giving a quantity of 
 milk : fixteen quarts per day, for three months after calving, 
 being confidered a very good produce, twelve quarts will 
 be near the average return. The milk is of a rich quality, 
 and is always fct for cream before churning : twelve quarts of 
 milk producing near two quarts of rich cream, will give one 
 pound of butter of fixteen ounces. A few barrel churns 
 are ufed on the larger farms, but the plunge churns are the 
 moft common. Butter is the chief object, as it meets with 
 ready fale, and the milk an indifpenfible article in houfe- 
 keeping. On a few farms, having from twelve to twenty 
 cows, cheefe-making is pra&ifed. Frefh butter is fold in 
 fummer at five-pence per pound, and in winter and fprirxg as 
 high as eight-pence ; when falted in crocks, it fells at fix-pence 
 and feven-pence. Between 800 and 1000 crocks, containing 
 30 pounds each, on an average, are annua'ly exported to 
 ngland. 
 
 The cattle of this Hland are obferved to require but a fhort 
 time to fatten, when either in choice pafture, or exported to 
 Kngland ; but the country appears better adapted for rearing 
 of flock than fatting. When fatted, their average weight 
 is four fcore per quarter, and in proportion to that weight 
 have forty pounds of tallow, and fixty pounds of hide. 
 
 Calving cows and heifers fell in the month of May from 
 four to fix guineas ; dry cows and heifers, for fatting, from 
 3!. 155. to 5!; oxen from the plough, from five to fix 
 guineas, and ufually leave with the grazier from 2!. ios. 
 to 3!. ios. 
 
 In October and November, the principal flaughtering 
 months, beef fetches at market two-pence-halfpenny per 
 pound, and gradually rifes to four-pence in winter, and 
 through the fpring till June, when the earlieft grafs fed 
 beafts coming in, the price lowers again by degrees. 
 
 I The 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 The HolJorncTs breed has been tried, but is not fuiteJ to 
 the climate or grafs. Cattle of a larger fi/e than the flock 
 of the ifiund, have been imported from Scotland and Ireland. 
 but on the whole, there arc i"e\v well made cows, or capital 
 milkers, in this country. 
 
 There being a great portion of heathy mountains in thi? 
 ifland, a confiJerable number of iheep are kept; wiihin thefe 
 twenty years, one-third lefs than formerly, as the inclofed 
 lands are more appropriated to cropping. Few farmers keep 
 above one hundred, except on the uplands, as- they are very 
 difficult to prevent from climbing over the fences, which are 
 in general made of earth. The ancient flock is very fmall 
 and hardy, enduring the fevereft weather with litt.e lofs ; 
 when fatted, their ufual weight is from five to eight pounds 
 per quarter, and the meat particularly well tafted. Tin's is" 
 flill the breed common on the upper farms and mountains. 
 In the lower cflates, the fheep, a mixture from Scotland and 
 Ireland, are much larger, weighing, when fatted, from 
 twelve to eighteen pounds. No choice flock of iheep is in 
 the pofleffion of any farmer in the country, and thofe whofe 
 weight would be about twelve pounds per quarter, feem to 
 be the fize beft adapted to this ifland. The diforder called 
 the Rot is fcarcely known, but another prevails, occa- 
 fioned by eating a particular weed, common in many paf- 
 tures, called, in the language of the country, Ouw. The 
 leaf of this herb deftroya the liver, and cauies the animal's 
 death in the courfe of twelve months. On opening die 
 iheep, this leaf is found attached to the liver, and transformed 
 into an animal having apparent life and motion, and retain- 
 ing its fhape as an herb. Two pounds and a half may be 
 the average weight of the fmaller iized fleeces, and the larger 
 rarely exceed feven pounds. It is not of the mien: or longell 
 ftaple, but the inhabitants make very ftrong cloth for their 
 ownclothing, Asthecuilom of waihingthe iheep, previous to 
 (hearing, is not in pradtice, the wool is fold, far from being 
 D a clean, 
 
clean, from fix-pence to eight-pence per pound. Almoft every 
 farmer referves as much wool and flax as employs the female 
 part of his family. There are fheep having wool of a 
 colour thought peculiar to this ifland ; a light brown, called 
 in Manx Laughthon, funilar to the colour of Spanifri 
 fhuff : thefe are not accounted hardy, and are more difficult 
 to fatten than the other forts. The cloth manufactured 
 of their wool, is liked much by the natives, and is the 
 only reafon why any of that breed is preferved. 
 
 Almoft every cottager keeps one or two pigs, which makes 
 their number confiderabte ; they are reared on the offal of 
 the houfes, and run about the lanes, and are killed at ten or 
 twelve months old. Potatoes and grains affift their keep in 
 fummer, and potatoes, whether boiled or raw, with fomc 
 little corn, is the food ufed for fatting. Hams and bacon for 
 the Englifh market prove a great encouragement for this 
 fpecies of flock. The market price for frefh pork is two 
 pence -halfpenny per pound, and for hams and bacon five- 
 pence. The average weight is fifty pounds per quarter- 
 Poultry is alfo numerous, not being annoyed by foxes, 
 foumerts, or other vermin. Fowls fetch at market fix-pence 
 a piece, and weigh four pounds at an average. Geefe are 
 very common, but are confidered difagreeable companions to 
 cattle in paftures : where they can be conveniently reared, 
 they are well attended to ; their price is from one fhilling to 
 eighteen pence, and weigh fix or eight pounds. Turkeys 
 and ducks are alfo plenty ; a coQuderable quantity of poultry 
 and eggs are fent to England* 
 
 TILLAGE* 
 
TILLAGE. 
 
 I HE arable land is laid out, in general, in inclofures from 
 four to ten acres each. The ridges of various fixes, thofe 
 of wheat, peafe, or oats, are narrow, between tour and nine 
 feet wide, and barley from 12 to 20 : due attention is not paid 
 generally to drawing them ftraight, or to regular breadths, 
 except c :i. thofe farms where the two horfe teams have been 
 introduced High ridges are not at all ufed, few lands hav- 
 ing fo deep a foil as to admit of them ; but the ridges are al- 
 ternately cloven and gathered, or more commonly, only 
 cloven at every ftirring. 
 
 DRAINS. 
 
 MOST lands in this country (land in need of this improve- 
 ment, which is pra6lifed with fpirit by a few individuals, who 
 have found their account in it. The covered drains are ufu- 
 ally two feet nine inches deep, nine inches wide at bottom, 
 and two feet at top ; they are filled up, one half with ftones, 
 and on them a l.iyer of ftraw, or pared furface of the fward 
 of grafs land, which the labourers here have a particular 
 neat way of paring. This prevents the mould from running 
 down between the ftones, which would deftroy the effecl: 
 required. This can be compleated, exclufive of the ftones and 
 their cartage, for four-pence the rod, of five yards and a half. 
 On ftifF lands, hollow drains have been tried without ftones, 
 narrow at the bottom, and covered half way up with fods, 
 or fquare fpits of the furface fward refting on ledges cut for 
 that purpofe on fuitable foils. This is an ingenious and valu- 
 able improvement, but it is not proper where the bottom is 
 inclined to fand The drains or ditches by the fides of the 
 feaces, are }n moft fituations too lhallow, and not kept 
 
 cleaned > 
 
cleaned ; which caufing furface water to lodge during the 
 winter feafon, chills the land, and robs it of great part of the 
 benefit of the manure laid on, befides protracting the proper 
 feed times. Water furrowing, if more pradlifed, would in a 
 great meafure aflift in remedying this evil. 
 
 A tracl: of 2000 acres has received immenfe and valuable 
 benefit from a drain cut through the loweft places, ten feet 
 wide, and fix deep ; its length nearly iix miles, by which a 
 confiderable quantity of arable land, as well as meadow and 
 pafture, has been improved. The foil is peat mofs and clay, 
 with abundance of marl. 
 
 There are feveral other large open drains, from low lay- 
 ing meadows aud paftures, which have benefited the pro- 
 prietors, but require a little more of their attention to keep 
 them clean than they feem to give. 
 
 ROTATION OF CROPS. 
 
 A -REGULAR rotation is litde understood or pra&ifed, it being 
 almoft the univerfal cuftom to crop the lands after manuring, 
 as long as they are able to bear corn ; then either to furren- 
 der them to grafs, or renew them by a frefh dreffing. The 
 lands, efpecially near the towns, complain of this mode, but 
 manure is there at command. 
 
 Few farms are fo uniformly of the fame fort of land, as to 
 admit of a general fyftem of cropping. On good land, the 
 moft approved rotation is, firft, potatoes or turnips well 
 dunged ; fecond, barley ; third, clover ; fourth, wheat ; fifth, 
 oats or peafe. The clover is fometimes manured according 
 to the condition of the foil or ability of the farmer. 
 
 On inferior land wheat is never fown, and oats take its 
 place : the rotation is alfo fhortened, and forced grafles occu- 
 py it till the farm can again afford it a dunging. On poor foil, 
 two or three crops of oats are taken off lay land of this de- 
 
 fcription, 
 
( 3' ) 
 
 fcription, and then it is fuffered to ftock itfelf with natural 
 grades, and requires feveral years before the land is fufficientljr 
 covered: it is then furrendered to pafture, till it is fuppofed it 
 can again bear another courfe of fuch like cropping. There 
 are many fields, efpecially thofe at a diftance from the farm 
 houfes, that never have any other courfe of management. On. 
 the marled land of the north end of the ifland, twelve crops 
 of peafe, and barley alternately, are often taken, and fome- 
 times fifteen, without any other afliftance than the dreffing 
 of marl, or even throwing in grafs feeds. But on many 
 farms, crops of fown grafs are interfperfed, and wheat ob- 
 tained. If the land gets ftiff or foul, a fallow followed by 
 wheat is ufed. The crops produced from this land are ob- 
 ferved to be of a far fuperior quality to any other, howfoever 
 managed. Heathy land is improved moftly with thorough 
 fallowing and liming, and after a few crops, is fown down 
 with grafs feeds ; but thefe foils require frequent dreflings and 
 tillage, or they return to their original flate. Summer fal- 
 lowing is not practifed by many in this ifland. 
 
 CULTURE OF DIFFERENT CROPS. 
 
 Wljeat. THE cultivation of this kind of corn is not general,, 
 as barley is found to anfwer often with more profit to the far- 
 mer: the demand for barley being great, and the price good, 
 added to the difference of condition necelfary for wheat, 
 prompts the cultivator to make the crop of barley his chief 
 object. Wheat being infected with fmut, very frequently in- 
 jures its fale, and the ftraw not being fit tor fodder, is alfo 
 againft its cultivation. 
 
 The feed ufually fown is the red fort, and changed from 
 one farm to another, or imported from England or Ireland; 
 after all which it will fometimes be fmutty, fo that it is evi- 
 dent the fault muft lay on the feafon. It is fteeped a few 
 
 hour& 
 
( 3* ) 
 
 hours before fowing, in fait water, and dufted with lime, 
 which is coniidered more ufeful againft birds and worms than 
 againft fmut. It is fown feveral ways : firft, under furrow on 
 a fummer fallow, fometimes limed or dunged in September, 
 or October at fartheft : fecond, harrowed under, on clover 
 land, with one ploughing only ; this often produces the 
 cleaneft and weightiest corn, but not the greateft quantity : 
 third, which is the moft common way, after potatoes ; this 
 crop not being dug up till late in October, often protracts 
 the fowing to Chrifhnas, and frequently prevents the fowing 
 of that grain. 
 
 Fair crops are fometimes got after flax, but it is rarely 
 fown after any crops of grain, as the ftrength neceffary for 
 wheat would caufe the preceding crop to be too luxuriant. 
 If a ftubble is dunged, and a wet feafon follows, it invari- 
 ably happens, that the crop fpends itfelf in ftraw, and is in- 
 fected with fmut. This grain fhould, however, be more 
 generally grown, as 5000!. is annually paid for flour im- 
 ported. According to the. condition of the land, is the allow- 
 ance of feed, good foils, fown early, being better flocked with 
 plants, with two bufhels of feed to the acre, than three 
 bufhels fown at Chriftmafs. The return is ufually from 24 
 to 36 bufhels per Englifh acre ; and fold always by weight, 
 allowing 64 Ib. per bufliel ; which is in general heavier than 
 the grain actually weighs, requiring T T T th to make up the due 
 weight. The price is from one guinea to 24 /hillings per 
 boll, of four Winchefter bufhels, 
 
 Barky. The lower clafs of inhabitants depending on this 
 grain for bread, and the increafed demand of the maltfters, 
 makes barley the greateft favourite, and chief dependance of the 
 farmers in this ifland : more than one half of the arable land 
 is annually fown with it, and it is found to be the beft adapt- 
 ed to the foil and climate of any fort of grain except oats, 
 which are hardier and bear with coarfer tillage. There are 
 3 but 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 but two forts fown, the four rowed, which is only fit to 
 malt ; and the two rowed, of which the meal is ufed for 
 bread. 
 
 The four rowed requires the earlieft fowing, and is ripe a 
 fortnight before the odier, and is maltable as foon as fit to 
 threfli. As it is a fmall grain, it does not turn out fo much 
 rnsal as the two rowed, which laft fort requires land in greater 
 condition, and generally bears the weightier! crop. The ufual 
 allowance of feed per acre, is from three bufhels and a half 
 to four raid a half, and the average return thirty fix. The 
 marled land of the north end of the ifland produces very 
 good crops, and of a remarkable good fample. 
 
 On fo'rae rich pailures, with only two ploughings, crops of 
 heavy clean grain are fometimes obtained; but it is moft 
 commonly fown after potatoes, the "neceflary manure and 
 tillage of which enfurcs a mellow rich feed bed, and a favou- 
 rable return, in cafe the fummer is not attended with much 
 rain. The ufual feed time is from the middle of April to the 
 middle of May* This grain is fown after wheat and peafe, but 
 never after oats, without the lands being manured, a cuftorn 
 feldom in practice, except where wrack, or fea weed, is to be 
 had, which throws good crops after any kind of corn. After 
 potatoes in beds, it is fown on one ploughing ; but after any 
 drilled or corn crops, two or three tilths are always given. 
 The prices have raifed within thefe ten years, from 15 to 
 1 8 fhillings, and now are as high as a guinea per boll of fix 
 imfhels. The grain, not weighing its due weight of 56 Ib. to 
 the bu'fhel, has created a cuftom with the maltfter of allow- 
 ing half a bufhel to the boll, but the rjiillers moftly buy at 
 three cwt. to the boll. 
 
 Oats. Oats are in general cultivation, efpecially on the 
 upland farms. As the meal produced from that grain forms 
 a confiderable part of the diet of the labouring people, there 
 are many places where oats Ihould be fown inftead of barley, 
 
 E which 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 which would prevent having recourfe to the importation of 
 meal, a cuftom much too frequent. Oats are moft com- 
 monly fown on a lay, or after other corn, with only one 
 ploughing ; fometimes two are given, and the feed turned 
 under furrow : but this is too feldom pra&ifed, as the crops 
 from this mode are moftly good. The two forts of feed are 
 the common white oats, and the Poland. This firft is a hardy 
 grain, and not being very liable to fhake, is moftly fown. The 
 Poland frequently pays very well, when fown on rich land 
 and well flickered, but is fubject to fliake, and does not yield 
 in meal fuperior to the common fort. The ufual feed-time, 
 is from the firft of March to the middle of April. From fix 
 bufhels of feed, a return of 48 is often got ; but the average 
 does not exceed five bolls of fix bufhels to the acre; and the 
 price is from 12 to 14 Shillings per boll, according to the 
 weight of the grain. 
 
 Beans are not yet much in cultivation ; heavy crops 
 have, however, been raifed on fome farms ; but they are 
 difficult to 'fave, as moift weather attends the latter end of 
 harveft. 
 
 Peafe. This grain is not much fown in the fouth end of 
 the ifland; but on the light lands of the north it makes a ma- 
 terial part of their hufbandry. Peafe meliorating the foil is a 
 good preparation for their fevere barley cropping. The grey 
 and white forts are both in common ufe, and are fown in 
 the month of April ; the allowance of feed is two bufhels 
 and a half to the acre, and the return about twenty bufhels. 
 
 Rye. Very little of this grain is at prefent grown ; for- 
 merly, before marling was fo much ufcd, rye occupied the 
 land now fown with wheat. 
 
 Potatoes 
 
Potatoes are generally, and in confiderable quantities, 
 grown in this ifland, the manure being chiefly appropriated 
 to their cultivation, as they are found particularly ufeful for 
 the maintenance of the inhabitants, and for the fupport of 
 different fpecies of flock. There are many different kinds 
 of feed fet, and the modes of cultivation various. On rich 
 land, the kidney fort bear an excellent character, but are not 
 fo prolific or keep fo well as others. The whire and apple 
 potatoes are good in quality, and yield a return in pro- 
 portion to the tillage and manure. Thefe forts are better than 
 moft for the fird part of the feafon. The pink eyes, and 
 copper plates, are hardy and ftrong, admitting of coarfer 
 management. The blacks are a late fort, and keep well till 
 till Augufr., when they are mellow; but before Chriftmas 
 they are watery. 
 
 There are many other forts cultivated by the townfmen in 
 their crofts, but thefe are the forts generally planted through- 
 out the country. 
 
 On the upland farms, and on coarfe foils, they ftill adhere 
 .to the ancient mode of .cultivation, termed lazybed. The 
 land is laid out in butts or beds, from fix to ten feet wide, 
 allowing from two to three feet for interval or furrow ; the 
 manure is then fpread on the furface, and the potatoe cut- 
 tings placed at ten inches diflance from one another on the 
 dung, and covered with the earth dug out of the interval ; 
 when the pknts begin to appear above ground, a fecond co- 
 vering out of the fame interval, of finer mould, is thrown 
 on, which deftroys the weeds, and does no injury to the po- 
 tatoes. Thefe two coverings do not exceed four inches deep 
 over the fets : they are then kept hoed and weeded, till the 
 potatoe bloflbms covering the furface, do not allow the 
 weeds to rife again. Another method is, to plough the dung 
 tinder, allowing an interval for earthing. The furrows are 
 broken and levelled by hacks or mattocks ; the fets are then 
 planted with dibbles or fticks ; having feet like fpades, arc 
 
 E 2 preffcd 
 
prefled into the land eafily to the depth of four inches. After 
 the fets are dropped in, the holes are filled up with rakes : the 
 earthing, hoeing, and weeding, is the fame as the lazybed. 
 Another method is, to dig the dung under, as is pradlifed in 
 gardens ; fet with a dibble, and not to give a covering of 
 mould, but hoe and weed as often as the weeds appear; 
 from 1 8 to 20 bufhels per acre, is the ufual allowance of 
 fets: the return depending on the care of hoeing and 
 weeding* is various ; from 160 to aoo bufhels is about the 
 common return; but fometimes with extraordinary care, 
 300 bufhels have been obtained. 
 
 Drilling potatoes is pratifed on many farms*, but it is re- 
 marked that the crops are not fo great as thofe grown on 
 beds, though a better opportunity to hoe and weed certainly 
 fhould plead in favour of that mode. The time of planting, 
 is from the latter end of March to the middle of May, the 
 earlieft fet producing the moft mealy potatoes, but the great- 
 eft crops are raifed from thofe planted about the firft of May. 
 The digging up is performed with three tined forks, which 
 fubjecl the potatoes to lefs rifk of cutting than fpades or 
 ploughs. A good hand can get up eight heaped bufhels in a 
 day without the affiftance of a picker; is. zd. per bufhel is 
 confidered a fair price. on the field, but the expence of carting 
 and ftoring increafes the price in fpring, frequently as high 
 as two fliillings. To prevent injury from the froft, it is nccef- 
 fary to cover them carefully with ftraw, but the fafeft way 
 of prefervation is in heaps in the field, packing ftraw clofely 
 round them about fix inches thick, and covering the ftraw 
 with earth a foot thick at 'the fides, and two feet at top, ob- 
 ferving to build the heaps as fharp as poffible, and to place 
 the grafs fide of the fods to the outfides. This, when well beat 
 with the back of a fpade, and coped fharply at the top, will 
 effectually keep potatoes from injury of either froft or 
 rain. 
 
 Turnips, 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 Turnips. This root appears to be well fuited to the cli- 
 mate of this ifland, and very good crops have been raifed 
 within thefe tew years on fome eftates; but the potatoe crop 
 is fo great a favourite, that dung cannot be afforded for their 
 cultivation: however, turnips are gradually rifing in repute. 
 The feed is always fown in drills well dunged, and wherever 
 they have been cultivated, great attention has been paid to 
 their tillage, manure, and hoeing. The return has in general 
 been profitable, though their cultivation is attended with ex- 
 traordinary expence. The common winter feed is the fort 
 fown. 
 
 Turnip rooted Cabbage, and Scarcity Re at have been tried, 
 and found not to anfwer. Crops of carrots have been alfo 
 grown both for horfes and cows, but were fo very expenfive 
 to keep clean of weeds in moifl fummers, that they are now 
 gone into difufe. ' 
 
 Different kinds of winter cabbage have been grown for 
 the feeding of milking flock, and were found very conve- 
 nient. The manure demanded for the culture of potatoes, 
 is the chief reafon why thefe laft mentioned crops do not 
 enter more rapidly into general cultivation. 
 
 p'ax. The growth and manufacture of flax is very ge- 
 neral throughout the whole ifland, almoft every farmer and 
 cottager growing a little, both for the ufe of their families and 
 exportation. The linen cloth is particularly well manufac- 
 tured, and rinds a ready fale in England, where 5000!. worth 
 is annually exported : the* price from the loom is from one 
 (hilling to one and fix-pence per yard. The feed is ufually 
 fown in April, and kept weeded till it completely covers the 
 land. By the middle or latter end of July, it is pulled and 
 laid in water for a week, by which time the pith is 
 putrified, and will fuffer the bark or flax to part eafilv. It 
 is then ipread on a pafture to dry, till it is found by exami- 
 nation, to be fit for fcutching or dreffing. It is then dreifed 
 I at 
 
C 38 ) 
 
 mt mills erected for that purpofe, of which there are 
 many on the different dreams, and is then ready for fp inning j 
 for cloth of one fhilling per yard, it is fpun without any 
 other preparation, but heckled when intended for finer. The 
 watering is extremely trotiblefome and diiagrecable, if the 
 weather is wet, a long feries of which will ruin the crop. 
 It is too precarious to cultivate en a large fcale in fo moifl 
 a climate, but fmall parcels are eafily managed. The allow- 
 ance of feed is about eighteen gallons per aov, but rarely fo 
 much as an acre is fown by any one perfon. When the fea- 
 .fon favours, the profit is fometimes as high as five pounds per 
 acre ; but it frequently happens, that it fcarcely clears itfelf. 
 Artificial graiTes thrive well when fown along with flax, the 
 pulling adting as a partial hoeing. It is always fown on land 
 ill good .condition, and not after any crop of grain. Potatoes 
 or drilled crops are excellent preparatives for flax. 
 
 In confequence of a fcheme for boiling flax, infread of 
 watering, recommended in the fifth volume of the Bath Pa- 
 pers, an experiment was tried, but the expence of boiling 
 was greater than the value of the flax. 
 
 Hemp is only fown in gardens or very rich fpots of land, 
 and very rarely feen cultivated in fields. 
 
 ARTIFICIAL GRASSES. 
 
 SOWN grafles are now fo eflentially neceffary, that every 
 farm, both upland and lowland, fow grafs feeds with their 
 fpring crops. The improvement of red clover in particular 
 is great, whether the crop is confumed by grazing or for hay. 
 It is the general opinion, that eating it off with flock, is lefs 
 injurious to the land than mowing. The roots of clover 
 have a fertilizing effecT: on the foil, and if the land is well 
 Hocked with clover, a plentiful crop of wheat follows. 
 
 On account of improving the quality of the hay, ray-graft 
 -feed is moftly fown along with the clover. This grafs is juftly 
 
 3 cofllidered 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 fidered a great impoverilher, and requires the land to be in 
 good condition, or the crop will be trifling ; and the injury- 
 to the foil great. White hay feeds are fometimes fown in 
 place of ray-grafs, and are accounted better when intended 
 to be laid down for pafture. Ten pounds of red clover, and 
 two bufhels of ray-grafs feeds, is the ufual allowance per 
 acre for a hay crop. For pafture, fix pounds of red, two 
 pound of white clover, and four pounds of trefoil feeds, with 
 three bufhels of white hay feeds, will form a good fward, if 
 the foil has received its due cultivation, and not exhaufted by 
 too many crops, an error too general in this ifiand. The 
 price of well faved hay is from two to three pounds per 
 ton. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 UPON a general review of the foregoing fubjecl:, it appears, 
 that nothing would contribute more to the improvement of 
 agriculture In the Ifle of Man, than a fociety of die gentle- 
 men of landed property and principal farmers, who by com- 
 municating their fentiments, and the refult of their experi- 
 ments, would mutually inftru6l themfelves, and eflentially 
 benefit their countrymen, by difperfing their knowledge 
 amongft their tenants, which would naturally create a fyftem 
 of emulation through the whole body of the proprietors of 
 fmallereftates, who are by far the majority, and whofe means 
 of information are very confined, their practice being for the 
 moft part gukled by old cuftoms. 
 
 A fociety of that kind, pofieffing a thorough knowledge 
 of the country, and at the fame time having the opportunity 
 of gaining valuable information from the neighbouring 
 kingdoms, feems to bid faireft, as the moft efieiitia.1 fervice 
 that could be rendered to agriculture here. 
 
 Draining and fencing appear to have the firft claim to at- 
 tention, and a more regular rotation of crops would be a 
 
 decided advantage. 
 
 If 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 If a fund were eftablifhed for giving fmuil premiums to 
 tenants and expert fervants, whom the iociety might think 
 deferving, a change for the betu . e confequence 
 
 with regard to the manual operations of hufbandry. 
 
 The different fpecies of ftock (land much in need of 
 amendment; the advanced price of horfes has ftimulated the 
 breeding of thofe of a larger frze, but they are not of that 
 broad flrong kind which are fo proper for labour. A ftrong 
 breed of about fourteen hands high wo; well with 
 
 .;umry, and anfwer every purpofe of agricultu'c, 
 
 The horned cattle, on the lowlands, are not near fo g 
 as the land would bear ; however, cows of a larger iize 
 would not agree with the nature of the foil and climate ; 
 care feems to be wanting to rear none but thofe of the 
 
 A method of rhaintainipg the clergy, lefs unpopular than 
 taking the tythe in kind, Would excite the farmers to ii:r 
 and grow a confiderable greater quantity of corn thai 
 now do. It is not uncommon for the clergyman to fet the 
 t\ the to a tenant, who fubfers it to another, and fo through 
 three or four hands, who have each a profit. By that means 
 the impropriator, or incumbent, does not receive the real 
 value of the tythe, and the farmer, or cottager, is obliged 
 to give the tenth of all his dependence; a circumuarscc un- 
 avoidably grating and difcouraging to the inuuftrious huf- 
 bandman. 
 
 
A 000 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
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