REPORT OF THE AGRICULTUKE OF AYRSHIRE. 29 



the smaller-sized farms. Vast improvements have been made 

 during the past twenty-five years on out-houses generally, espe- 

 cially on the byres; and during the same period, much better 

 house-accommodation for the farmer has been in very many 

 cases provided. Small perception of the beautiful, however, has 

 been shown in even the better class of dwelling-houses tff late 

 date. In the eyes of landlords or their agents, a farmer's house 

 seemingly is not " the correct thing," without the orthodox front- 

 age of five windows and a door ! 



Respecting farm implements, the farmers of Ayrshire, within 

 the last forty years at least, have been always amongst the first 

 to adopt any new improvements ; and up to the present time, 

 this county in that line has kept pace with the most advanced 

 districts in the kingdom. Agricultural implement makers, — of 

 reaping-machines, threshing-mills, ploughs, grubbers, turnip and 

 mangold sowers, cheese-presses, &c. — abound ; and who turn out 

 equally effective implements, generally more simple in construc- 

 tion and easier wrought, of more durable workmanship and 

 cheaper in price, than those from south the Tweed, and it is the 

 duty of all Scotch farmers, to encourage as much as possible the 

 machinists of their own several counties. 



The roads in Ayrshire at the period first mentioned, were 

 hardly practicable for any kind of wheeled machine, being stun- 

 ners in the literal sense of the word ; but now, these are about as 

 good as the irregularity of land-surface will ever admit of, and 

 there are abundance of them, crossing and re-crossing each other 

 in every quarter. Both the turnpike and statute-labour roads 

 will now, and for years past, contrast very favourably with those 

 of any county in Scotland. Good roads are essential to good 

 farming. The first step in progress of georgical improvement of 

 any backward district is to begin and mend its ways. The county 

 now is also intersected in nearly every possible direction by 

 railroads, for conveyance of passengers, goods, and minerals, be- 

 sides many miles of private lines into coal works, &c, on which 

 lime is occasionally carried ; and there is the near prospect of a 

 further large addition being made to our railway system. Eail- 

 roads certainly have been a great means of effecting improve- 

 ments in Ayrshire, by enabling farmers to leave their own con- 

 fined districts, and see personally how things are moving along 

 in others, and that at little expense and little time lost. By 

 them farmers have fit and cheap means of transit, for themselves, 

 their agricultural produce, manures, implements, and live stock, 

 to and from market-towns, fairs, shows, roups, &c. 



The rotation for long known in Ayrshire as " the Fairlie rota- 

 tion" — from Mr. Fairlie of Fairlie, near Dundonald, Commissioner 

 then for Alexander, Earl of Eglinton — was introduced about the 

 time stated at beginning of this section. Tinder it the tenants were 



