The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-08
FARMS IN SCOTLAND
HOW SCOT WRISTS LIVING FROM
 HIS NORTHERN HILLS.
Grows Oats and POthtOes--Has Modern Flow, Improved Harrow and Ma- chine Digger--AverRge Crop
 1000 Pounds to the Acre.

From early times the Scotch farmer has had a world wide reputation for thrift. According to Consul J. C. Hig- gins, of Dundee. that reputation stiH prevails. On Scotch farming and farms he says:
 The, consular district of Dundee in- cludes the whole of Forfarshire and parts of Fifeshire and Perthshire. which. while having highlands useful to pasturage and game, have arabic districts unexcelled in Great Britain for profitable agriculture at the hands of farmers of extraordinary ability. The farms have been cultivated for hundreds of years. but their fertility is now of the highest order. the mainte- nance of which, as measured in bush els and tons of highest class products. Is the supreme test of good farming.
 Systematic Rotation of Crops.
 oats succeed grass; the potato oat" is a present favorIte. If the preced- ing grass has been pastured the oats get no manure. but If 1t was cut for hay the oats get three hundred weight (336 pounds). more or less, of fertili- ger, 1. e., one containing phosph orlc acid. potash and nitrogen. The potato oat requires four bushels of seed per acre. the Abundance" variety requires six bushels Yield. fifty to eighty bushels per acre selling at from 50 to 60, cents per bushel.
 Potatoes succeed oats. While there are several ways of preparing land for potatoes, the one generally pursued Is to apply farmyard manure on stubble of preceding crop during November December or January, averaging twenty loads per acre, equally spread, plowed down at once. and then let lie until planting time. April preferred, when, If dry and in condition for work ing, 1t Is narrowed, deeply rolled, and cultivated until made soft and friable. It Is then put in ridges thirty inches apart and complete fertilizer sowed broadcast to from five to ten hundred weight (660 to 1,120 pounds) per acre. Whole medium sized potatoes are placed from nine to twelve inches apart and the ridge reversed to cover them. double moldboard blow Is used.
 In four to six weeks the plants are up. Meantime the rows have been narrowed down and put up twice to destroy weeds. This is often done with a concave- harrow that hugs the ridge and maintains it's shape. obviating the putting up." Two of these harrows can be coupled together and two rows worked at once. The middles are drill grubbed when the plants are two to four inches high with a powerful mar -toothed cultivator. to slacken and soften the soil to permit the tubers to grow. The plants are next hand hoed and again drill grubbed. They next get the final throwing or earthing up SO that the tubers shall be well cov- cred; ground to be worked only when dry. Some farmers apply farm ma nure in the drills at planting time in- stead of broadcast as above. and In such case the artificial manure may not always be applied so liberally.
 Potatoes and Other Crops.
 'sThe ITp-to date" machine diggers are in general use. The crop is lift ed" during autumn and stored In long pits. from which 1t Is marketed. Be- ing a regular rotation crop the field may run as high as forty acres. The crops run from eight to fifteen tons per acre. selling at from ST to $2O per ton. There seems to be no fiat cul- ture. The Scotch potato has reputa- tion peculiarly it's own. Many tons are shipped to the United States when price warrants, and they are much llked-
 Wheat succeeds potatoes. No ma nure is applied unless 1t be one hun dred- weight (112 pounds) of nitrate or soda In the spring. A present favorlte is "sduare head" a four-rowed beard less, early maturing red sort seeded Tn autumn. The climate being cool ana equa&e. without not suns, 'iie -, goes on until a late August or Septem . Der harvest. The crop runs from thir- ty to sixty bushels. the latter by no means phenomenal. The straw crops are invariably stacked and matched.
 Turnips succeed wheat. Ridge cul- ture. rows twenty-six to twenty eight inches apart. Turnips are the ensilage of this country. While having feed ing value of their own. their chief and recognized value is in that their use as food for milk. beef and mutton nEn-