Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Croft cultivation

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well cultivated. Except those in peat, all were a messj
of stones, or, hard stuff below the mere surface, so that
the roots of any useful plants, are unable to go nearly
as deep as they should go, so as to grow properly.
And were crofters at all aware of their great loss
from this cause, we should hear no more outcry for
“more arable land, more arable land,” for generations.
Every crofter would really “cultivate” his land, in¬
stead of giving it a mere surface show of cultivation,
and would be so astonished at the wonderful difference
between the crops that he grew formerly on his hard
and shallow old soil, and what it produces since it was
cultivated deeply by the spade and pick, that he would
be ashamed of the nonsense he and others have talked
and printed as to needing “ more arable land” than
five acres.
Indeed, if what is prayed for now, were granted,
most of our crofters would need to emigrate; for, if
the outcry was wise and listened to, there is not half
enough land in Britain for crofts to its country people;
whereas, were our land really i‘'cultivatedf there would
be no real need of emigration, for generations yet to
come.
Eileanach, Feb. 1885.