REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 283 



5. The last cause which we would specify as contributing to 

 the advancement of agriculture in Dumfriesshire, is the influence 

 which has been exerted by the various agricultural associations 

 of the county. Shows for the exhibition of cattle and sheep have 

 for many years been held at Moffat, Lockerbie, Annan, Thornhill, 

 Sanquhar, and Langholm, and have had the same influence in im- 

 proving the quality of the stock in these respective districts which 

 similar shows elsewhere have had. In 1852, a union show, 

 which comprised the counties of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, and 

 Wigtown, was inaugurated at Dumfries, and has been held every 

 five years since. To explain its object we cannot do better than 

 quote the language of the Earl of Dalkeith, in proposing the 

 toast of the evening at the dinner which wound up the proceed- 

 ings of the last show (1st October 1867). That noble Lord said, 

 " The show was originated for this purpose, that the different 

 societies of which it is composed, after having had their annual 

 exhibitions, might come together once in the five years, and, by 

 comparison, see the relative progress of their neighbours and 

 themselves. In district shows they saw some men get the first 

 prizes for two or three consecutive years, to the discouragement 

 of others, and perhaps they thought their animals the best in the 

 whole country ; but on turning out to the union they found that 

 their neighbours had animals as good, if not superior, to theirs. 

 The importance of this would be fully appreciated by practical 

 men." 



But there is another society, whose object is somewhat dif- 

 ferent from, or, to speak more correctly, more comprehensive than 

 that of any of the associations we have referred to. Its efforts 

 have been so praiseworthy and beneficial that, in specifying the 

 causes which have contributed to the advancement of agriculture 

 in Dumfriesshire, it ought not to be passed over in silence ; we 

 refer to the Lockerbie Farmers' Club. The sole object of the 

 other societies is to improve the stock of the county, and they 

 seek to do so by one means — that of shows. The Lockerbie 

 Farmers' Club, however, while not neglecting this very impor- 

 tant object, has at the same time other equally important ends 

 in view. The principal object contemplated at its commence- 

 ment was the discussion among its members of practical ques- 

 tions directly connected with agriculture. It was started in 

 1848, and as arable farming was in a transition state at that 

 period, the discussions which took place at its periodical meet- 

 ings produced a most beneficial effect upon the arable farming of 

 the district. But there are two branches of husbandry in which 

 the farmers of Dumfriesshire have achieved no mean reputation, 

 and it is because the Lockerbie Farmers' Club did so much to 

 advance these branches to their present satisfactory condition, 

 that we feel called upon to take such special notice of its opera- 



