General View of the Agriculture of the Hebrides, Or Western Isles of Scotland
General View of the Agriculture of the Hebrides, Or Western Isles of Scotland

Author: James MacDonald

Publisher: Forgotten Books

Published: 2017-10-22

Total Pages: 836

ISBN-13: 9780265587072

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Excerpt from General View of the Agriculture of the Hebrides, or Western Isles of Scotland: With Observations on the Means of Their Improvement, Together With a Separate Account of the Principal Islands The first written accounts which we have of the Hebridians, occur in the Chronicle of Mann; and these are scanty and confused nor indeed is the loss of their history of much consequence during the latter periods, (or even from the reign of Alexander III.) when they were finally annexed, by a specific agreement, with the Scottish Crown. What we regret most is the loss of their annals during the era of the introduction of Christianity and the age which preceded it, as well as that of their connexion with the Roman transactions in Britain. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

General View of the Agriculture of the Hebrides, Or Western Isles of Scotland
General View of the Agriculture of the Hebrides, Or Western Isles of Scotland

Author: James MacDonald

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 9781230381015

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1811 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. ARABLE LAND. SECTION I.--TILLAGE. The Hebrides having been for ages chiefly devoted to grazing, the cultivation of crops requiring regular tillage was not a primary object. Agricaltural implements were accordingly simple and imperfect, and the system of ploughing or tilling the ground made no progress for several centuries. Even to this day, the idea continues to prevail in some parts of these regions, that it'is unwise to turn the soil at all, because the moisture of the climate, the poorness of the land, and the consequent insecurity and lateness of corn crops, render every mode of management inadvisable, excepting that followed by their ancestors, namely, corncropping the rich infields and grazing the natural old pasture with the indigenous live stock of the country. It must indeed be confessed, that in several districts of the Hebrides, especiallv in the rugged islands of Arran and Mull, in Jura, part of Skye, Harris and Lewis, and in the terrific island of Rum, the most valuable improvements of which they admit cannot be expected to proceed from tillage. Nature opposes impregnable bars to the passage of the plough over their surface. An enlightened agriculturist will perhaps say to the natives, "Inclose what you can, and plant hardy trees in the most sheltered situations, and especially in spots not exposed to the Atlantic and western storms; select the best and hardiest breeds of sheep and cattle; top-dress the practicable declivities of your hills with sea-sleech, shell-sand, or any other manure you can procure at a reasonable price; preserve your lowest lying grounds and meadows for winter use, --and do all you can to get through the year with the few potatoes you may raise on your mossy grounds, and the fish which...