The following Report relating to Renfrewshire was drawn up at the desire of the Board of Agriculture

CHAPTER V.

IMPLEMENTS.

THE plough which is in most common use in this county is the Scots, but made much lighter than it formerly was. Ploughs of a new and better construction have been introduced and are gaining ground. They are of the kind contrived by Mr Small of Berwickshire; with a curved mould-board of cast-iron; and new improvements are daily making in their construction. The latest improved ploughs have the sheath, sole, mould-board, &c. of cast-iron; so that the only parts which are of wood are the beam, stilts, and one or two necessary wedges. Carts are generally constructed for one horse; and, for easing draught by diminishing friction, iron axles are employed, especially in the neighbourhood of Paisley. The diameter of the wheels is generally 4½ feet. Coup, or turning carts, are scarcely used. As the horse hoeing husbandry is little practised, the necessary implements for the operations which it requires are hardly known. Too little attention is paid to the brake and roller. Lister's patent machine for cutting straw is lately introduced into the county; and it is presumed will be found a valuable addition to the present implements of husbandry.

'The prices of farming utensils in 1795 compared with 1809, are as follow;
Utensils. 1795. 1809. £. S. d. £. S. d.

A good close-cart, with iron axle, and wheels strongly mounted with iron, when complete,

A coup-cart, or turning cart, with similar axle and wheels,

A plough of the best construction, fully mounted with horse trees,

Winnowing machine, or fanners, on the newest construction,

A pair of harrows, or brake for two horses, on the best construction,

The threshing machine till lately was little known in Renfrewshire, there being, a few years ago, only two or three in the county, which were introduced about the year 1796. In a district where the wages of farm servants are already high, and constantly advancing, it is certainly of importance to introduce any scheme which may have a tendency to save labour; and consequently threshing machines are now more numerous. Experience has completely proved, that by employing threshing machines (driven either by wind, water, or horses) there is a great saving of labour, independent of the additional quantity of grain which the machine gives by performing the work more effectually.

There are other inducements for adopting this piece of machinery: a farmer by means of it can employ his horses and servants in threshing out his crop in stormy or rainy weather, when no operation can be performed in the field. He thereby at once brings to market a considerable quantity of grain, without waiting for the tedious operation of the flail; and thus supplies the public at the time they most stand in need of corn; a circumstance conducive to the advantage not only of the individual, but also of the community. Some of these machines, on good and simple principles, are in the possession of farmers in neighbouring counties. They are said to have cost only about £50, are worked with two or three horses, and thresh six bolls in an hour; and by the addition of a simple apparatus they can be rendered fit for the winnowing of the corn. It is to be hoped that the general want of this useful piece of farming machinery will soon be supplied in Renfrewshire. In this county, the practical knowledge of mechanics has been very successfully applied to a great variety of purposes of manufacture; and, were our ingenious artists to bestow attention on this valuable engine, they would probably improve its construction as well as diminish its price.

Some of the churns, it is believed, are peculiar to the county. Many are wrought by a lever in a manner similar to the working of a pump; in which case the churn is in a vertical or upright position, and. the end of the churn-staff is connected with one end of the lever. But the most material improvement is the invention of churn mills by the application of a water wheel. The churn, in this case, is in the form of a hogshead, and lies fixed in an horizontal position. The frame for breaking the milk is moved, with a moderate velocity, on an axis passing through the centre of the churn; while the churn itself remains at rest; and to prevent the escape of the milk, the aperture for admitting the axis is small and closely fitted. The whole apparatus is simple, and is similar to what is employed in a common corn mill. The expense is small, and the advantage in saving labour great. The butter, in consequence of the equable and constant motion, is supposed to be of a better quality, and in greater quantity, than what is produced by the common mode. When water cannot be obtained, a horse might be employed.

CHAPTER VI.

INCLOSING.

THE county is, in general, well inclosed. Great advantage both with regard to the increase of rent, and to the quantities and kind of produce, have been found to result from inclosing. It is difficult to ascertain to what degree rents have been advanced in consequence of it; because rents have increased from better culture, greater variety of crops, better markets, a more general application of manure, and similar circumstances, as well as from inclosing. Thus a small estate, consisting of seven small farms, in the parish of Neilston, which in 1766 yielded £120, is now let at £800. In the same manner, an estate in that parish which was rented in 1768 at £216, is also raised to £800: and, in the adjoining parish of Paisley, a small estate which was let in 1765 at £233, is now raised to £1,300. Though these and similar advances of rent are not to be ascribed to inclosing solely, yet it may be fairly computed, that, in many cases, rents have been advanced 30 per cent from that cause alone. It has also occasioned a greater variety and a greater quantity of farm produce. About thirty years ago, when the county was uninclosed, sown grasses were never attempted; but a great quantity of hay is now raised; and, as the ground is generally prepared for hay with a crop of barley, a much greater quantity of barley is also raised. The farmer has it likewise in his power to save his fields from the poaching of cattle in winter; which must greatly contribute to increase the quantity, not only of grass, but of cam.

The inclosures in the arable parts of the county, are generally from 5 to 12 acres. In the higher parts they are considerably larger. The mode of inclosing in the middle and low divisions, is generally by hedges and ditches. In the highest grounds it is generally by stone dikes. A sunk fence of stone, with a hedge on the face or top of it, is much approved of by many; and a thorn hedge planted on the surface, within a stone dike, produces a strong and beautiful fence. It may be here observed, that the sweet-briar has been found to be a good addition to the plants usually employed for hedges, on account of its vigorous and long shoots for a few years after planting.

The important inquiry, whether inclosures have increased or diminished population, does not admit of an easy solution in a great manufacturing county like Renfrewshire, where the population on the whole has for a considerable period been constantly increasing, owing to the demand for labour at its numerous manufactories. From the fluctuations of trade the population may vary at different periods; and the numbers of inhabitants in one part of the county may have decreased, while in another they are augmented. Accordingly, there are the strongest reasons to believe, that the numbers in the country part of the county, or those parishes where manufacturing villages have not been established, have decreased,[53] while the population of the towns and villages has been greatly advanced; and a description of peasantry, called cottars or cottagers, who were employed by the more considerable farmers, as their labourers or assistants, are now hardly to be found.

The occupiers of land may be considered as the most permanent part of society. Few circumstances tend to occasion their removal, or to cause any sudden increase or diminution of their number, especially in a county where they hold their possession by so sure a tenure as a nineteen year lease. In an agricultural survey, it may be of importance, to ascertain if their numbers are different from what they were in former times. The number of farmers may be very correctly known one hundred and fifteen years ago, by examining the survey which was then made of the inhabitants in the different parishes in the county, for the purpose of a general poll-tax,

Parishes. Population in 1755. 1792-5.

Erskine, 829 808

Inchinnan 897 806

Innerkip,

Eaglesham,1,105 1,590 1,280 1,000

Kilmalcolm, 1,495 951

Total, 5,414 4,54,6

Upon comparing these records with the lists of the occupiers of land (in 1795) in a few parishes, where their numbers were accurately known, it appears that the number of farmers is diminished.[54]

Such being the fact, it becomes a question how far this has been occasioned by inclosing. Inclosures render fewer hands necessary for tending and folding cattle, they may therefore be in some degree the cause of a decrease of the number of cottars; but the diminution of this description of peasantry, may probably be ascribed, chiefly to the introduction and progress of manufactures, which may have given a different turn to the labour and employment of the inhabitants, and may have occasioned their resort to towns and villages. As inclosures also render large farms in many respects more easily managed; it is probable they may, therefore, have partly suggested the union of farms, or the addition of smaller to larger possessions.

Parishes. Number of farmers in 1695. 1795.

Eaglesham ,135 6

Mearns,138 124

Neilston, comprehending Knockmade and Shatterflat, 178 153

Cathcart, 41 29

Kilbarchan, MI 10

Lochwinnoch, 188, 148

Inchinnan, 541 3

Erskine, 80 70

Total, 1,007

This junction of farms, in the degree in which it has taken place in Renfrewshire, must be considered rather advantageous than prejudicial to the interests of the county.

Nothing particular occurs as to gates. They are of various forms and prices, and commonly made of foreign fir. Many farmers introduce three movable cross bars of timber, in a mortice of wood or stone, resembling post and rail. The ordinary gates are composed of three cross bars with an angular rail. The farmers are in many instances extremely deficient in securing their inclosures with proper gates. A few thorns or bushes are often carelessly thrown into the gate-way, instead of a stout well finished gate.