REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE. 41 



Before leaving the subject of " fattening cattle," the reporter 

 may observe that, a good many of the inland farmers occasion- 

 ally grass-fatten one or two cows each, a small field of pasture 

 being " hained " for that purpose. 



The land around Girvan and for 3 miles up the water is 

 very early, and probably the best soil in the county, considering 

 the quantity of rain they enjoy thereabouts. The soil is mostly 

 dry light mould, resting on a gravelly subsoil. A wide extent 

 of early potatoes are raised in that quarter, and succeeded now 

 in very many cases by barley. Higher up the water, between 

 Bargany (Duchesse de Coigny) and Kilkerran (Sir J. Fergusson, 

 Bart.), the valley is greatly shaded with wood, and much of the 

 land under fine old pasture, realizing thus fully as much, pro- 

 bably, as if let for tillage purposes. The high grazing lands to 

 the east of the vale of Girvan, in Dailly, Kirkmichael, and 

 Straiton, parishes, are stocked either with Cheviot or blackfaced 

 ewes, and these served with Leicester rams, or, in some cases, 

 with what are called Yorkshire rams,— a larger boned sheep, and 

 throwing stronger lambs. 



Mr. Andrew W. Ralston occupies the farm of Lagg (Lord 

 Ailsa), situated on the May bole coast, about 5 miles south of 

 Ayr. Extent, 325 imp. acres arable, and 190 acres hill-pasture. 

 Soil of the low lands generally a good strong loam with stiff clay- 

 ish subsoil, and the higher arable lands of a lighter loam 

 similarly bottomed. 50 acres of the low land are under liquid- 

 manure irrigation, of which more anon. The rest of the lower 

 lying land is managed on a 7-shift — viz., (1) Oats out of lea ; (2) 

 Green crop, mostly potatoes, with drilled beans on the heaviest 

 portions of soil ; (3) Wheat ; (4) Green crop, mostly turnips ; 

 (5) Wheat, sown out ; (6) Young grass or hay ; (7) Pasture. 

 The lighter soiled fields next the hill are under a 6-shift — oats, 

 turnips (partly or wholly '"'fed off" growing with sheep), oats, 

 and 3 years pastured. Mr. James Todd, Dunure Mains (Hon. 

 T. F. Kennedy), a mile or two farther along the coast, manages 

 with precisely similar rotations to above, but often substitutes 

 barley for the second wheat crop, as many of the Carrick soils 

 (and Carrick farmers also, haply) are becoming " wheat-sick " 

 from a too frequent recurrence. The young grasses are always 

 better after barley, and, should climate more permit, its larger- 

 substitution for wheat would be a step in the right direction. 

 Mr. Young, of Highfield, Mr. Wright, of S. Sanquhar, and others 

 in St. Quivox parish, by skilful and wary management can grow 

 it successfully, and many more might do the same with like soils. 

 Mr. Ralston's manuring for green crops generally under his 

 ordinary rotations is — 25 good carts of farm -yard dung, 5 cwt. dis- 

 solved bones^and 2 cwt. Peruvian guano, per Scotch acre. And 



