the farmer that his land is still so overcharged with moisture as to be incapable of high and remunerative cultivation. The drained clay lands on which these sedges are generally seen growing, are those done about 20 years ago and previously, at a depth of from 22 to 24 inches, and 15 or 18 feet apart. Sooner or later the whole of that shallow drained land will have to he gone over again. The tiles in some parts of these shallow drained fields are now only 12 to 15 inches under the surface, and do an actual injury to the top-ground, by filtrating off much of the finer material of the soil, and part of the strength of the manure in solution. Very probably, however, if the Alsyke clover was sown to any extent on these shallow drained sedgy fields, it would flourish to perfection even on the wettest of them.

The late Duke of Portland was the first to erect tile works in Ayrshire during 1825, and in August 1826, in a 15 acre field on the farm of Struthers, near Kilmarnock, tenanted by the reporter's father, the first drains were cut on His Grace's estates. We suspect this to have been the first instance of parallel tiledraining in Scotland, although parallel draining with broken stones and “engine-danders" had been done in some cases prior to above date, as at Daldorch in Sorn parish, and which latter are yet in efficient operation. It seems to the writer that a great deal too much credit for inventing or devising the parallel system of drainage is given to the "immortal Smith of Deanston," as Mr. Sanderson styles him. The old duke (as good a landlord as ever Ayrshire had—would that his successor would come down occasionally like his father and see for himself) had some thousands of acres drained, and the whole farm of Struthers for one, on the regular parallel system with tiles, long ere Smith's name was heard of. A portion of the above-noted field at Struthers was redrained in winter 1861-62, and every tile (12 inches long x 4 in diameter) when lifted, was found as fresh and good, and fit for service, as when first put in; and the increased crops from this portion since have well repaid the outlay. Draining was carried on briskly on the Portland estates at a depth of about 2 feet and 18 feet apart up to near 1850, when the depth was increased to 27 inches, then to 33, then to 36, and finally to 42 inches, at which, except in special cases, it has since remained. From 1826 up to 1846, his Grace had tiledrained nearly 12,000 acres on his Ayrshire estates, before many of our other proprietors had made more than a beginning. All the land on the Portland estates needing is now drained; and, of course, much the greater proportion on the shallow system. Most of the work done within the last six or seven years has been redraining or deepening the old drains to 42 inches, although 3 feet is found sufficient in some cases, and

where the sub-soil is open it is done only with each alternate drain, but with stiff tilly bottoms every drain is deepened. The late Duke's charge for the original draining was 5s. per Scotch acre of additional rent, and in some cases on his poorer upland clays only 2s. 6d.; the tenants only carting and laying down the tiles in small heaps alongst the intended lines. The redraining is now charged to the new tenants at 5 per cent. on outlay. The reporter may be excused for inserting the following extract of a communication from the Duke's office at Braehead House, Kilmarnock :-"As usually the case with innovations and improvements, tile-draining was regarded at first as a very doubtful experiment by the farmers in this neighbourhood, and it was a proof of your father's liberal and advanced views in agricultural matters, that he had faith in the experiment, and was the first to make trial of it."

Draining has been pushed on very rapidly generally over Ayrshire since about 1845. The drains first put in under the government grant, at 3 and 4 feet depth, with intervals of 28 and 30 feet between, were found worse than useless in the stiff clayish subsoils generally prevailing, as the farmers committed the gross error on Ayrshire heavy lands, of levelling the former rounded ridges, ploughing with wide breadths for the purpose of green cropping, and laying the land after into 15 feet ridges of a flat form, so that the ground between the drains actually lay wetter than before. This is being helped in many cases now by inserting shallower drains in the intervals. Mostly the draining done now with government money, is at 42 inches and 18 or 20 feet apart; and where done with the proprietor's own money, commonly at about 3 feet depth in every furrow (15 feet). On uany farms of heavy soil, after being drained, the "Fairlie rotation was thrown aside, wider acreage put under green crops, and guano substituted in great part, both for green.crops and white crops, instead of the former mode of dunging and liming on the sward. During the course of the first rotation after drainage, the guano answered most admirably, and great crops of every thing were raised, but during the second course just elapsed, the guano-manuring in most cases has much disappointed the farmer's expectations. The land is now even barer of grass, and still stiffer to plough (although the grass-seeding joined with the green cropping, accounts partly for the increased bareness of grass). The guano encouraged farmers to plough more than they could properly dress with solid dung, and Ayrshire clays must have something or other to keep them open. Dung or lime effects a sort of porousness, but guano (with so much wet) allows the soil to run together, till it gets so close and soured that nothing will grow. Certain farms could be pointed out on which even the thistles and docks now just put in an

Caustic lime applied to the shallow-drained damp grass lands would certainly tend much to neutralize the sourness of soil, and to exterminate the sedges and other aquatic plants; and still more beneficial if in connection with a deepening of the drains. Twenty or twenty-five years ago, aud for long previous, liming was carried on very largely in Ayrshire. It would not b difficult to point out now many farms which have been to a certain extent ruined by lime-that is, by excessive quantities of it applied during the first 30 or 40 years of this century, and such applications followed up by a most exhaustive mode of cropping. Severe cropping after lime is very hurtful on any soil, but upon poor, wet clays, it is actually ruinous. Three successive white crops, besides the never absent ryegrass seed one, were far from being uncommon; and such deplorable farming is even yet occasionally seen. Large doses of lime laid on now upon these lands would probably do as much harm as good. They require first to be thoroughly renovated with farm-yard manure, better drained where needful, and then stimulated with moderate allowance of lime. The frequency and abundance of the common daisy in many very bare pastures evidences a sufficiency of calcareous matter. Although there is now a large and constant demand by the ironfurnaces, yet no county in the kingdom has better supply of lime, and it can be had for about 9s. per ton, in shell, laid down at any railway station, or within a mile or two of almost every farm in the shire.

Much is talked now and again about permanent grass, but we think that in most of the inward parts of Ayrshire, from 6 to 9 years under grass will be found permanent enough to be profitable. By all means, however, let the Ayrshire farmers have more permanent meadow land, for one cutting of hay and grazing after. Fodder for the cows must be had, and of course the grass must be broken up in regular rotation of time to supply that; but the grass land should be allowed to lie as long as possible, and no greater extent of grain crops grown than absolutely essential. The farmers should economise their fodder by the use of the chaff-cutter, and their roots as well by giving more compound meal, molasses, &c., and increase their fodder crops by laying out "irrigation meadows," and doing away with "seed hay."

There are considerable extents of wild meadow land interspersed throughout the high lying districts. The hay secured from the more marshy kind consists in great part of jointed rushes or "spretts," along with other very innutritious plants, yet it is of great service to the partly or wholly stockfarmer as winter fodder, and very many of the upland farmers depend almost entirely for their winter keep upon bog-hay,

which, innutritious even as it is, is still superior to ryegrass hay, or the general run of oat straw. These bog meadows, if partially drained and limed, would grow magnificent crops of Timothygrass, infinitely superior both for bulk and quality, to the present sprett hay "-although it is but right to state, that during the last 25 years, large portions of many have been thus improved. In a dairy county like Ayrshire, the system of irrigating grass land for permanent hay crops is one of the most valuable of improvements. The produce of such meadow land in nutritiousness, where properly sown down at first, is vastly superior to either oat straw or thrashed rye-grass hay,-that will be granted by every one; and in possession of such a meadow, the dairy farmer could graze with his young bestial and a few sheep, the whole or greater part of his first year's grass from seeds, to the immense advantage of the pasturage after. Water meadows entail no expense for manure. All that is required after they are properly formed and levelled, and sown down, being a knowledge of the right times to lay on and take off the water. They annually furnish a large amount of useful and nourishing food, and the manure made from the animals fed thereon, goes to enrich the fields under tillage. There are few counties in the kingdom presenting greater facilities than Ayrshire for the profitable application of running water from passing rivulets. These receive the drainage water rich with fertilising matter, and there are hundreds of low lying fields on to which they could be conveniently turned, and the land converted at little expense, into most remunerative meadows. There may be more, but the reporter is aware of only some half-dozen artificial (regularly formed and sluiced) meadows presently in Ayrshire. One he has known intimately for about 30 years, since it was made in fact, and by much the greater portion of the herbage now consists of Meadow Foxtail, with more or less of Timothy, Meadow Fescue, &c. The soil of this meadow is a deep medium loam incumbent upon moss, and it is still as productive, if not more so, as during its first decade. One year with another it will yield about 3 tons of first-rate hay per imp. acre, besides after-grazing for calves and sheep. The grass, however, is partly used green for soiling. A second cut of hay might be had, but cannot well be taken from the backwardness and wetness of Ayrshire climate, and after-grazing with young stock and sheep probably pays better.

Besides the regular sheep and cattle hill-pasture, there is a large acreage of old permanent grass of first-rate quality, generally attached to and mostly in the immediate vicinity of landowner's seats, amounting to-say 7 or 8000 acres. This is annually let by publie roup, and taken by farmers and cattle-dealers as summer-grazing for their young stock, &c., at varying rents, according to quality and times.

We have to say, ere concluding this section, that the remarks upon ryegrass seed-saving have no reference to the farm practice of most of the farmers in the seaward districts. Their young grasses are generally good, and in great part grazed, less hay being made as we near the coast. The following are a few mixtures of seeds as sown on farms in various parts of the shire, and on which the first year's grass is either early green-cut for hay or for soiling hoises fresh from the field, or grazed, generally by sheep. Quantities per Scotch acre, unless otherwise stated. Grass seeds are mostly all sown by hand, very few using machines.

Mr. Hugh Woodburn, Annandale, Kilmarnock: for one year's hay and 2 year's pasture following, sometimes 3 year's pasture-2 bush. ryegrass, 4 lbs. white clover, 2 lbs. red, 1 lb. alsyke, 2 lbs. meadow fescue, 1 Jh cocksfoot, 1 lb. timothy. Soil, a strong loam.

Mr. John Cunningham, Tires, Maybole-either for hay or pasture, but two-thirds grazed for one that is made into hay; grazing 2 years-14 bush. rye-grass, bush. Italian do., 4 lbs. red clover, 3 lbs. white, 2 lbs. alsyke, occasionally a little yellow, and on his blackish land from 1 to 2 lbs. timothy. Soil various; see second Section.

Mr. James Wright, South Sanquhar, St. Quivox; for 2 year's grazing after barley on a sandy-loam-2 bush. ryegrass, 3 lbs. white clover, 2 lbs. red, 2 lbs. yellow, 1 lb. alsyke. For one year's hay on strongish loam-2 bush. rye-grass, 7 lbs. red clover, 2 lbs. alsyke.

Mr. John Hamilton, Monktonhill, Troon; for 2 year's grazing-13 bush. ryegrass, 3 lbs. white clover, 3 lbs. red, 2 lbs. yellow, 1 lb. alsyke, per imperial acre. Soil, a deep light loam.

Mr. David Cuninghame, Chapelton, West Kilbride; for 2 year's grazing, mostly, but a small part of the first year made into hay-1 bush. ryegrass, bush. Italian do., 3 lbs. white clover, 3 lbs. yellow, 2 lbs. red, 1 lbs. alsyke. Weak, but quick light land.

Mr. Robert J. Thomson, Grange, Kilmarnock; for 1 year's hay, early green-cut and a second-cut following-15 bush. foreign Italian rye-grass, 1 bush. annual ryegrass (heavy seed), 2 lbs. cowgrass, 2 lbs. alsyke clover, 2 lbs. red clover, per. imp. acre. Soil, a strong loam, resting chiefly on yellowish clay. Mr. Thomson top-dresses the oat-stubble in autumn with about 12 carts town's dung per acre for the hay-crop; and, again, with 2 cwt. sulphate of ammonia early next summer.

Mr. Andrew W. Ralston, Lagg, Ayr Heads, Carrick; for 2 years' seeds in 7-shift, first year part hay and part grazed-1 to 2 bush. ryegrass, 4 lbs. white clover, 3 lbs. red, 2 lbs. alsyke; generally good strong loam, but in one or two fields the "trap"