278 REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



that Is. 3d. per cwt. was an average price for that commodity. 

 It is true of all departments of industry, commercial and manu- 

 facturing, as well as agricultural, that a keen demand for any 

 article has always a tendency to encourage its supply, and that, 

 on the contrary, the supply is meagre if the demand be fiat. 

 Thus the difficulty which the farmer experienced in meeting with 

 a ready and favourable market for his produce naturally operated 

 as a check rather than as a stimulus to improvement. 



The running of a steam-vessel between Annan and Liverpool 

 first opened up a good outlet for the surplus produce of the 

 county, and thereby gave a considerable stimulus to agricultural 

 improvement. This boat was started in 1821 ; but it was a very 

 tiny craft, and was capable of carrying only a very limited cargo. 

 In 1825, however, a larger vessel was put upon the station, and 

 a great deal of farm produce of all descriptions was conveyed by 

 it to Liverpool, where much higher prices could be realised than 

 had hitherto been commanded at home. In 1835 a similar 

 vessel was put upon the Dumfries and Liverpool stations, and 

 was also largely patronised. Advantageous as this system was 

 for the transmission to a good market of all kinds of farm pro- 

 duce, its advantage was specially felt in regard to live stock fit 

 for the fat market. Before these steamers were started com- 

 paratively few cattle were fed within the county. Turnips were 

 cultivated to a very limited extent, and the stock grazed upon 

 the parks were despatched to the south before they were fit to 

 be killed. Only as many were fed as would supply the local 

 demand, and they were mostly exposed for sale on the sands of 

 Dumfries, and were used for home consumption. But the in- 

 creased facilities for the transmission of stock to such a favour- 

 able market as Liverpool, which the steamers afforded, encour- 

 aged the feeding of both sheep and cattle, and this in process of 

 time began to be carried on to a considerable extent. About 

 1830, the late Mr John Pagan, who was well and favourably 

 known to the farmers of Dumfriesshire, commenced business as 

 a cattle salesman in Liverpool, and the satisfaction which he and 

 others engaged in the same trade gave in selling stock on com- 

 mission acted as a further encouragement to the preparing of 

 cattle and sheep for the fat market. This state of matters 

 was continued until, in 18-46, the Caledonian Railway traversed 

 the county through its entire length, and opened up a still 

 more speedy and cheap mode of transit. Farm produce of all 

 kinds, even of such a perishable nature as milk, could be for- 

 warded to a good market on moderate terms. Prices, in conse- 

 quence, became equalised over the different parts of the king- 

 dom, and the Dumfriesshire farmer, who, from his isolated 

 situation, had at one time been placed at such a disadvantage, 

 was now enabled to compete with the producer who was in 



