PARISH OF POLMONT.

IV.-INDUSTRY.

Agriculture

The uncultivated consists of the Redding Moor, and is capable of being cultivated. It is an undivided common, belonging to the Duke of Hamilton; but the right of pasturage is held by some of the other heritors. Till very recently, it was altogether a waste, when portions of it, with the permission of the superior, were partially enclosed and cultivated, chiefly with the spade by the colliers, at their spare hours,-a circumstance creditable to their industry, and advantageous to their morals; and in some instances, they have reaped an abundant produce both in oats and potatoes. Were the whole brought under culture, it would be a very great improvement.

Rent of Land.-The rent of Carse land varies from L. 3 to L. 4, l0s. per acre, according to the prices of grain determined by the county fiars, and of dryfield from L.1. to L.3 per acre. The real rent of the parish is between L.7000 and L.8000.

Wages.-The wages of labourers per day run from 1s. 8d. to 2s. Farm-servants, hired for the half-year, receive from L. 7 to L.10, with bed and board.

Husbandry.-In the dryfield the five-shift course is followed, and in the Carse, very generally the six-shift, viz. 1. summer fallow ; 2. wheat; 3. beans; 4. barley; 5. hay; and 6. oats. Great improvement has lately been made in the culture of land, in consequence of the introduction of tile-draining. It costs per acre from L. 4 to L. 7, according to the nature of the soil, and, if small stones or gravel be laid above the tile, the expense will be increased; but the increase of expense is amply compensated by the increase of benefit. The whole outlay is repaid in additional produce in a few crops. There is one steam-engine in the parish, which turns a thrashing mill-a great saving in horse-labour, and otherwise not costly, as coal is near and cheap. It may be proper to state, that great facilities are afforded for conveying manure here, from Edinburgh and Leith, both by the Union Canal, and by the Firth of Forth. Nor are these facilities disregarded. The mode of farming usually practised is of the most approved kind. The land, particularly in the carse, and in the dryfield to the north of the Union Canal, is almost in as high a state of cultivation as it can be brought by skill and capital; but the same thing cannot be said of the land to the south of the Canal, and in the most elevated district of the parish, where, for the most part, the poverty of the soil operates as a hinderance to improvement.

There are two works for making tiles and bricks.

Produce.- The average gross amount and value of raw produce, as nearly as can be ascertained, are the following: