ably of late years; manufactures have been introduced; and the town may be pronounced in a thriving ftate. In 1756, the number of inhabitants was 1378. In 1792, 1827. The revenues of the town are small, arifing from fome landed property and the harbour dues.

Pathhead is named from its fituatian near a steep descent called the Path. It is divided into Pathhead Proper, or Dunikeer, fituated on Dunikeer eftate, and Sinclairton fituated on Sinclair eftate. Dunikeer is the old town: the greateft part of Sinclairton has been built within these 40 years. The chief employment in Pathhead was, for a long time, the making of nails. They fent great quantities to Edinburgh, to Glasgow, and to the north of Scotland. Two things favoured this trade, plenty of good coal near them, and the facility of getting old iron, by the fhips trading from Dyfart to Holland. But when other places came to have the fame advantages, and nail factories were erected in different quarters, the profits of this trade were diminished. Manufactures have been introduced fince that time. Many bred fmiths have become weavers: the women too are beginning to handle the fhuttle with fuccefs. Several manufacturers of substance now refide there, who have raifed themselves by fober induftry: and the town is in a fair way of flourishing, if the sudden rife of wages do not lead the young men into habits of diffi pation. Symptoms of this have appeared of late but the practice is as yet happily not general; and we hope the inha bitants, in general, will continue to show that regard to the laws of the land, and that refpect for the precepts of the gofpel, without which they cannot hope to profper. In 1756, Pathhead,

morals of the people are not yet entirely effaced. New laws and greater vi. gilance on the part of government rendered the trade very hazardous; and it is now feldom attempted. A fair trade has fucceeded it, where the profits may be lefs, but the fecurity is greater.

Fathhead, including Sinclairton, contained 1107 inhabitants : in 1792, 2089.

There are two villages, Galaton and Borland. In the former, nailing was the chief bufinefs; and is still carried on. But many weavers now refide there, who are employed by the manufacturers in Dyfart and Pathhead. In 1756, it contained 203 inhabitants; in 1792, 432. Borland was begun in 1756, for accommodating the colliers, and has been fince increased. It contains 196 inhabitants.

In 1756, the numbers in the country were 241; in 1792, 409. This increase is not from more farmers refiding than formerly, but from a number of weavers and fome fmiths having from time to time built houfes along the high road, and in other places of the country.

The caufes of this increase of population are, an Antiburgher meeting-house being erected at Pathhead, which drew thofe of that perfuafion near it; the advantage of being near coal, and the encouragement for labour about the coal-works; and what has contributed much more than either, the rapid increase of the manufactures.

Improvements by Proprietors.-In the Sinclair eftate, there was originally an extensive moor, burdened with feal, divot, turf, &c. to the burgh of Dyfart. Servitudes of this kind are a great bar to improvements: and, in eftates where coal is an object, the attention paid to it, too often prevents the cultivation of the furface. When the inhabitants of Dysart came to give up the use of turf, either for burning, or other purposes, their privileges on the moor could not be of great importance. An agreement concerning them feemed evidently for the advantage of all concerned. This was accomplished at different periods. As a compenfation to the town, above 100 acres were conveyed to them in property: and the family of St. Clair were at liberty to cultivate what remained. In the beginning of this century, a few years after the first transaction with the town, Lord St. Clair began to plant and enclose near the Orr. His example was followed by his fucceffors and what ftill retains the name of Dyfart moor, now confists of good enclosures, chiefly in pasture, surrounded with belts of plantation. Within these 50 years, between 300 and 400 acres have been planted and improved, no more remaining in its original state, than what is neceffary for fuch of the feuars as ufe divot for a covering to their houses. The whole estate, a few acres excepted, is enclosed with ftone and lime, or ditch and hedge. The laft is preferred as a cheaper, warmer, and more beautiful fence. The eftate is ftill capable of improvement.

The proprietor of W. Strathorr, while he is bufied in carrying on an extenfive manufacture in a neighbouring parish, dedicates his leifure hours to the improvement of his eftate in this. The ground has been cleared of ftones, which almoft covered the furface: the fields have been enclosed, drained, and manured: belts have been planted to fcreen it; it affumes a very different appearance from what it did a few

years

years ago. It already makes fome return for the money E. laid out upon it; and will foon repay it with intereft.

Farms in the Hands of Tenants.-Thefe are 15 in number, containing from 30 to 280 acres each. Upon thefe, are 51 men, including the farmers and their fervants; 94 horses; 350 cattle; 24 ploughs*; 38 carts. They breed annually 16 horfes, 79 calves. There are feveral extensive enclosures in pafture, on which 100 cattle are fed annually; 339 bolls of oats are annually fown, which produce 1824 bolls; 101 bolls of barley, which produce 589 bolls; 43 bolls of wheat, which produce 351 bolls; 70 bolls of peafe, which produce 271 bolls. Potatoes, turnips, hay, and flaxt, are also raised in no great quantities; and the proportions cannot be easily afcertained. The rent of the beft grafs-ground in the burgh acres is, 21. 155. the acre: of the beft arable land, 31. In the farms, there is little above 11. an acre; and much below it. There is a confiderable extent of ground not above 7s. 6d. the acre. The leafes being only for 19 years, is against thefe farms. Had the farmers a leafe of double that time, they would be encouraged to improve by the hope of a return; or, were the proprietors to take them for fome time into their own hands, and improve them, they would afterward get more than double the rent, and do an important service to the publick, The produce of the parish goes but a little way to fupply its confumption. Meal and flour are imported from Lothian; meal, wheat, barley, and hay, from the neighbouring parishes. Little manure can be got but lime, which is ufed in confiderable quantities. For fome time,

Small's ploughs are now generally used.

+ More flax was formerly cultivated; but in the late leafes, the farmers have been restricted in this article, from fome mistaken notion of its being too scourging.

time, fervants were preferred to cottagers: but fince the late rife of wages, and great demand for labour about the roads and manufactures, they feel the want of them, particularly in harvest, when hands are with difficulty procured. Men-fervants wages are 61. a-year. Our farming cannot be faid to be in a very advanced state: but there has been great improve. ment within thefe 20 years. The advantages of enclofing and laying down in grafs are now felt: the diftinction between infield and outfield is doing away: balks are difappearing; and green crops are fubftituted in the place of fummer fallow. The foil is none of the beft; but might be made much better than what it is at present.

Burgh Acres.-About Dyfart, Pathhead, and Galaton, num. bers who keep cows and horfes, find it neceffary to farm a few acres at a high rent. Where farming is only a secondary object, perfection cannot be expected. They have the advantage of the country farmers in more eafily procuring dung; and accordingly the foil near the towns appears richer than in the country. They often fow too thick; and are feldom at pains to keep their fields clear of weeds. Drilling was introduced about 40 years ago. Wheat, barley, beans, and oats, are fometimes fown in this way; turnips and potatoes always. Where the ground is over-run with weeds, as is the cafe with the burgh acres, from their being almoft conftantly in tillage, the drilling is furely a great advantage; feed is faved; the crop is generally more vigorous, and more easily kept clean. There are a few of those who have the burgh acres, who push the farming with vigour, and have their grounds

*In ftony ground, the ftones ufed to be thrown into the hollow between the ridges, by which one-third of the ground lost these ridges called balks.