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with rain。 From the autumnal to the vernal equinox； a dry day is
hardly known； except when the showers are suspended by a tempest。
Under such skies can be expected no great exuberance of vegetation。
Their winter overtakes their summer； and their harvest lies upon
the ground drenched with rain。 The autumn struggles hard to
produce some of our early fruits。 I gathered gooseberries in
September； but they were small； and the husk was thick。
Their winter is seldom such as puts a full stop to the growth of
plants； or reduces the cattle to live wholly on the surplusage of
the summer。 In the year Seventy…one they had a severe season；
remembered by the name of the Black Spring； from which the island
has not yet recovered。 The snow lay long upon the ground； a
calamity hardly known before。 Part of their cattle died for want；
part were unseasonably sold to buy sustenance for the owners； and；
what I have not read or heard of before； the kine that survived
were so emaciated and dispirited； that they did not require the
male at the usual time。 Many of the roebucks perished。
The soil； as in other countries； has its diversities。 In some
parts there is only a thin layer of earth spread upon a rock； which
bears nothing but short brown heath； and perhaps is not generally
capable of any better product。 There are many bogs or mosses of
greater or less extent； where the soil cannot be supposed to want
depth； though it is too wet for the plow。 But we did not observe
in these any aquatick plants。 The vallies and the mountains are
alike darkened with heath。 Some grass； however； grows here and
there； and some happier spots of earth are capable of tillage。
Their agriculture is laborious； and perhaps rather feeble than
unskilful。 Their chief manure is seaweed； which； when they lay it
to rot upon the field； gives them a better crop than those of the
Highlands。 They heap sea shells upon the dunghill； which in time
moulder into a fertilising substance。 When they find a vein of
earth where they cannot use it； they dig it up； and add it to the
mould of a more commodious place。
Their corn grounds often lie in such intricacies among the craggs；
that there is no room for the action of a team and plow。 The soil
is then turned up by manual labour； with an instrument called a
crooked spade； of a form and weight which to me appeared very
incommodious； and would perhaps be soon improved in a country where
workmen could be easily found and easily paid。 It has a narrow
blade of iron fixed to a long and heavy piece of wood； which must
have； about a foot and a half above the iron； a knee or flexure
with the angle downwards。 When the farmer encounters a stone which
is the great impediment of his operations； he drives the blade
under it； and bringing the knee or angle to the ground； has in the
long handle a very forcible lever。
According to the different mode of tillage； farms are distinguished
into long land and short land。 Long land is that which affords
room for a plow； and short land is turned up by the spade。
The grain which they commit to the furrows thus tediously formed；
is either oats or barley。 They do not sow barley without very
copious manure； and then they expect from it ten for one； an
increase equal to that of better countries； but the culture is so
operose that they content themselves commonly with oats； and who
can relate without compassion； that after all their diligence they
are to expect only a triple increase？ It is in vain to hope for
plenty； when a third part of the harvest must be reserved for seed。
When their grain is arrived at the state which they must consider
as ripeness； they do not cut； but pull the barley： to the oats
they apply the sickle。 Wheel carriages they have none； but make a
frame of timber； which is drawn by one horse with the two points
behind pressing on the ground。 On this they sometimes drag home
their sheaves； but often convey them home in a kind of open panier；
or frame of sticks upon the horse's back。
Of that which is obtained with so much difficulty； nothing surely
ought to be wasted； yet their method of clearing their oats from
the husk is by parching them in the straw。 Thus with the genuine
improvidence of savages； they destroy that fodder for want of which
their cattle may perish。 From this practice they have two petty
conveniences。 They dry the grain so that it is easily reduced to
meal； and they escape the theft of the thresher。 The taste
contracted from the fire by the oats； as by every other scorched
substance； use must long ago have made grateful。 The oats that are
not parched must be dried in a kiln。
The barns of Sky I never saw。 That which Macleod of Raasay had
erected near his house was so contrived； because the harvest is
seldom brought home dry； as by perpetual perflation to prevent the
mow from heating。
Of their gardens I can judge only from their tables。 I did not
observe that the common greens were wanting； and suppose； that by
choosing an advantageous exposition； they can raise all the more
hardy esculent plants。 Of vegetable fragrance or beauty they are
not yet studious。 Few vows are made to Flora in the Hebrides。
They gather a little hay； but the grass is mown late； and is so
often almost dry and again very wet； before it is housed； that it
becomes a collection of withered stalks without taste or fragrance；
it must be eaten by cattle that have nothing else； but by most
English farmers would be thrown away。
In the Islands I have not heard that any subterraneous treasures
have been discovered； though where there are mountains； there are
commonly minerals。 One of the rocks in Col has a black vein；
imagined to consist of the ore of lead； but it was never yet opened
or essayed。 In Sky a black mass was accidentally picked up； and
brought into the house of the owner of the land； who found himself
strongly inclined to think it a coal； but unhappily it did not burn
in the chimney。 Common ores would be here of no great value； for
what requires to be separated by fire； must； if it were found； be
carried away in its mineral state； here being no fewel for the
smelting…house or forge。 Perhaps by diligent search in this world
of stone； some valuable species of marble might be discovered。 But
neither philosophical curiosity； nor commercial industry； have yet
fixed their abode here； where the importunity of immediate want
supplied but for the day； and craving on the morrow； has left
little room for excursive knowledge or the pleasing fancies of
distant profit。
They have lately found a manufacture considerably lucrative。 Their
rocks abound with kelp； a sea…plant； of which the ashes are melted
into glass。 They burn kelp in great quantities； and then send it
away in ships； which come regularly to purchase them。 This new
source of riches has raised the rents of many maritime farms； but
the tenants pay； like all other tenants； the additional rent with
great unwillingness； because they consider the profits of the kelp
as the mere product of personal labour； to which the landlord
contributes nothing。 However； as any man may be said to give； what
he gives th