Prior to that period, not above four or five fmall beeves were killed in Lauder market at Martinmas. Since that time, in confequence of the cultivation of turnip and grafs, there has been plenty of the best beef and mutton through the whole

year.

Peat and turf were formerly used here for fuel; but, fince the turnpike roads were made, coal, though tranfported from the diftance of 15 miles, is ufed for that purpose both in town and country. The farmers find it most for their advantage to bring home lime in the fummer feafon, and coal when returning from Edinburgh or Dalkieth markets. These two, with Kelfo and Haddington, are the markets nearest this parish.

Antiquities. A confiderable quantity of Spanish, Scotch, and English coins, have been dug up. The antiquity of the firft extends no farther than the age of Elifabeth. The Scotch and English belong to the age of Edward Longshanks, and Alexander I. of Scotland; and fome of them are of a later date. The minifter of Lauder is in poffeffion of some of these coins, and alfo of feveral Roman coins, whofe infcriptions are, Lucius Flaminius, Julius Caefar, &c. There are many Pictish and Scotch encampments in this parish and the neighbourhood. All of them are of a round or oval figure, and are called rings by the common people. The Roman encampments were fquare or rectangular; but none of them are to be seen in this part of the country. The largest Scotch or Pictish encampment in the parish is on Tollis-hill, or Tullius-hill. It is on the road between Lauder and Haddington, and is fuppofed to have got its name from a Roman army paffing through this country, and commanded by a Tullius. Many tumuli are to be feen in Lauder moor, on the

old

old road to Melrofe, where it is probable fome battles have been fought, as fragments of fwords, bows, and arrows, are found there; but no record or tradition is known concerning them. The arrows were pointed with flint-ftone, tapering from the juncture, about an inch long.

Lauder Fort.-Towards the north of the tower of Lauder, by the river fide, ftands Lauder fort. This fabric is near 300 years old. It was built by Edward Longshanks, who had over-run Scotland. It was rebuilt, and converted into a dwelling-house, by the Duke of Lauderdale, in the end of the laft century. There are some noble apartments in it, and rich ftucco work, according to the taste of that age. One of the old apartments is preserved as a curiosity.

NUM

NUMBER IX.

PARISH OF AYTON.

By the Rev. Mr GEORGE HOME.

THE

Name, Situation, &c.

HE parish of Ayton feems to take its name from the water of Eye. It lies in the county of Berwick, prefbytery of Chirnfide, and fynod of Merfe and Tiviotdale. The parishes by which it is bounded are Eyemouth and Coldingham on the north, Chirnfide on the weft, Foulden and Mordington on the fouth, and by the fea on the caft. The parish is about 4 miles long, and 4 broad: It was once of larger extent, when Lammerton, Rofs, and Shiels belonged to it. The foil is in general fertile, and particularly adapted for the turnip husbandry. There is about 2 miles extent of fea coaft. The shore is high and rocky. The hills in this parish lie chiefly in the fouthern extremity. The foil of fome of them, especially of a ridge of no very confiderable height, is in general well adapted for producing corn or grass.

Cultivation and Produce.-Agriculture has undergone a great change in the course of a very few years. Inftead of five or fix fucceffive white crops, the farmers will feldom allow two to follow each other; for they derive confiderable advantage from introducing a green one, and occafionally fallow, be

tween

tween the white crops. The experience of this neighbour hood has rather a tendency to prove, that money expended in the cultivation of moor lands has feldom turned to a good account, and that planting is the best mode of improvement; the effects of water, however, has not been tried. Lime operates at first, but loses its effect as a stimulus upon a fecond trial. Though the appearance of moor lands may be changed by culture and artificial graffes, they will not feed well; and, when wet or cold, are believed to lay the foundation of the rot in sheep, a diftemper which proves extremely fatal.

Artificial graffes are directed their atten

Two horfes only, are at present used in the plough here, inftead of four oxen and two horfes, which was formerly the practice. They will perform the fame quantity of labour equally well, and in much shorter time. The English plough is chiefly ufed in this parifh. The lands produce most of the common vegetables, plants, and trees. much ufed. Of late the farmers here tion, and with great fuccefs, to ftock. lands in grafs make a profitable return. ground is enriched for future crops. The advantage of teeding theep on the lands, in the proper season, with turnip, is fenfibly felt; and this practice is supposed to be preferable to a fummer fallowing; and is, at the fame time, no lofs to the farmer.

They find that the By feeding, too, the

Plantations of all kinds of trees are much encouraged by the prefent proprietor of the estate of Ayton, which contributes greatly to enrich and beautify the country. His lands fome years ago were all run-rig*, as was very much the cafe, particularly

* A common field, in which the different farmers had diffe. rent ridges alloted them in different years, according to the nature of their crops.

ילן

particularly upon the boarders, with a view to engage the people to a mutual defence and protection of their property, in times of turbulence and hoftility. They are now divided, have convenient farm-houfes, and are highly improved. Harvefts are rather carly here than late. The greatest part of the lands in this parish is inclofed with hedges. Fences of this kind are recommended both by their beauty and utility. The rife of rent feems to have operated here as a spur to exertion and improvement in agriculture. The farms have rather decreased in number. Soine of them, though but few, extend to 500 or 600 acres.

Air and Diftempers-The air is dry and falubrious. The fogs arifing from the fea feldom penetrate above a mile from the fhore. The ague was very common prior to the improvements and inclofing of lands; but fince that time this diforder has scarcely been known here, except during the last very open winter.

Horfes, Sheep, &c.-The horfes bred and ufed here are lender; but they are very active, and able to undergo much fatigue: They have advanced much in value. The breed of sheep is both good and large; their weight, at an average, is about 18 or 20 lbs. per quarter. Four of their fleeces yield a ftone of wool. Five fheep may be maintained upon an acre of fome of the best lands. The number of sheep in this parith, till within thefe ten or twelve. years paft, was small. Great advantage arifes from the large breed lately introduced: Befides yielding more wool, they are fit for the market in two years time; while sheep of the smaller fize require to be kept three years before they are ready for the market. The wool of the large sheep is, without doubt, of a coarfer quality; but this difadvantage is VOL. I.

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